Yean Hyanggyo (Confucian School)

About this place

In the Joseon period, each district had one hyanggyo, and Yean Hyanggyo was the hyanggyo established in Yean-gun, founded in the 11th year of King Taejong (1411). It was repaired in the 34th year of King Seonjo (1601), extensively renovated in the 21st year of King Yeongjo (1745), and underwent several further repairs thereafter. Whereas hyanggyo were usually built with their main buildings arranged in a straight front-to-rear line, Yean Hyanggyo was constructed so that the space for study lies to the left and the space for rites to the right. In the study area, from the front, stand the main gate Yanghoru, the dormitories Dongjae (Geoinjae) and Seojae (Yuuijae), the lecture hall Myeongnyundang, and behind the Myeongnyundang the Gojiksa and Jeonsacheong. The area for rites is a separate, walled-off space consisting of the inner three-bay gate and the shrine, the Daeseongjeon. Enshrined in the Daeseongjeon are the spirit tablets of 27 Confucian sages of Korea and China, and rites are still held there every year in the second and eighth lunar months.