Photo Gallery

Namgye Seowon - 남계서원 (남溪書院) (built 1552 onward)

Namgye Seowon was established in 1552 to memorialize the scholarship and achievements of Jeong Yeo-chang (1450-1504), whose pen name was Ildu. Originally known as Saaek Seowon, the site received its present name in 1566 when it obtained a royal warrant. As the second oldest private academy in Korea, the Seowon was exempted from the Daewongun's 'Seowon abolition edict' of 1868, which led to the destruction of a number of seowon in an effort to curtail local power.

The design of Namgye Seowon is architecturally very significant since it represents one of the earliest attempts to define a paradigm for private academy construction. The first private academy, Sosu Seowon, was located on the site of an old Buddhist temple, so its layout is primarily inherited from its original function as a temple. In contrast, Namgye Seowon was established on a new site. Some key features of the layout are its relative symmetry with a study courtyard located in the front, and a shrine courtyard located in the rear. To show the relative hierarchy of the two functions, the shrine courtyard is placed on a high hill. These core design principles are almost certainly borrowed from the layout of hyanggyo--state-supported schools--which had flourished in Korea since the Goryeo dynasty and remained common during the Joseon era, with one established in every county.

In traditional Korean society the Hamyang area was noted for its scholarship, and maintained a friendly rivalry with the Andong area to the northeast. As the two regions straddled opposite sides of the Nakdong river, the two areas were noted for differences in their scholastic lineages. While Andong tended to gravitate toward the teachings of Toegye Yi Hwang, the Hamyang region tended to favor Jeong Yeo-chang. Hence, the establishment of Namgye Seowon in 1552 can be seen as an attempt to bolster the repute of Jeong Yeo-chang vis-a-vis the scholars of Andong, such as Toegye Yi Hwang.

According to GPS readings taken by the author, the site sits at 35 32.92414' N, 127 46.99709' E (WGS84 map datum). Address: 경남 함양군 수동면 원평리 586-1 (Gyeongsangnam-do, Hamyang-gun, Sudong-myeon, Wonpyeong-ri 586-1).

(Designated Tangible Cultural Property #91).

Plan view

Image redrawn and adapted following Hangukui Geonchuk Munhwachae 7: Gyeongnampyeon (Korean Historical Architecture 7, Gyeongnam Region).