Changju Seowon

About this place

Changjuseowon was built in 1579 (the 12th year of King Seonjo's reign) as Goryongseowon in Geumji-myeon, Namwon, but in 1600 (the 33rd year of King Seonjo) the state bestowed the tablet 'Changju,' and its name was changed to Changjuseowon. It was closed under Heungseon Daewongun's order to abolish seowon during the reign of King Gojong, but was restored to its present site in 1959. The seowon currently comprises the shrine Myeongdeoksa, an inner three-gate (naesammun), a lecture hall, and a caretaker's house (gojiksa). The roof of Myeongdeoksa is a gabled (maebae) roof resembling the shape of the character for 'person' (人) when viewed from the side. Inside, the spirit tablet of No Jin is enshrined, and a memorial rite is held each year on the 20th day of the third lunar month. The lecture hall is a hip-and-gable (paljak) roofed building whose roofline resembles the shape of the character 'eight' (八) when seen from the side.