Gyeonggwangseowon

About this place

Above the Sacheon stream on the eastern side of Geumgye-ri, there stood from ancient times a temple called Yujeongsa, and in the 1st year of King Seonjo (1568) the local Confucian scholars established Gyeonggwangseowon. Later, in the 3rd year of King Hyeonjong (1662), its name was changed to Gyeonggwang-jeongsa, and the memorial tablets of two masters, Bae Sang-ji (pen name Baekjukdang) and Yi Jong-jun (pen name Yongjae), were enshrined there. In the 27th year of King Injo (1649), Chunpa-isa was founded, where the two masters Yi Jong-jun (Yongjae) and Jang Heung-hyo (Gyeongdang) were enshrined. In the 12th year of King Sukjong (1687), it was elevated to a seowon; the tablet of Master Gyeongdang was moved to Gyeonggwang-jeongsa and venerated together with masters Baekjukdang and Yongjae. It was demolished under the Daewongun's decree abolishing the seowon, but in 1873 an altar site (danso) was set up and the memorial services were continued. Later, in 1978, it was restored to its present form, and rites are held every year on the jungjeong day of the ninth lunar month.