Deogyangseowon (Uiseong)

About this place

Deogyang Seowon was established in 1625 (3rd year of King Injo) to honor the scholarship and virtuous conduct of Baekchon Kim Mun-gi. Kim Mun-gi was a civil official of the early Joseon period who served as Second Minister of the Board of Punishments and Minister of the Board of Works, among other posts, and was executed in 1456 (2nd year of King Sejo) for involvement with the Six Martyred Ministers (Sayuksin). It was demolished in 1868 (5th year of King Gojong) under Heungseon Daewongun's decree abolishing seowon, but was restored in 1948 by local Confucian scholars. Representative buildings within the grounds include Sangchungsa and Gyeonguidang. Sangchungsa enshrines the spirit tablet of Kim Mun-gi, and Gyeonguidang is a lecture hall for studying Confucianism. Configured with a wooden-floored hall in the center and ondol (heated-floor) rooms on both sides, it was used as a gathering place for Confucian scholars. In addition, there are the spirit gate (sinmun) through which officiants enter, the jeonsacheong where ritual food is prepared, the eastern and western study halls (dongjae and seojae) used as lodgings, and the caretaker's residence. The seowon holds a hyangsa (ancestral rite) each spring.