Below: Axonometric drawing of Gwacheon Hyanggyo*. Drawn by the author, Timothy M. Ciccone
*The drawing is an approximation from photographs and not to scale.

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Gwacheon Hyanggyo - 과천향교 (果川鄕校) (built 1398 onward)

This Confucian school was first established in Gwacheon in 1398 by Yeol, a follower of the High Priest Muhakdaesa. It was burnt down in 1400 and later reconstructed. It was destroyed during the Japanese invasions of 1592-98, rebuilt, and destroyed again during the 1636-37 invasion by the Qing Chinese. It was once again reconstructed sometime in the early 17th century and moved here in 1690 by the chief officer of Gwacheon. Of the remaining structures, the Daeseongjeon and Myeongnyundang halls are the most important. The Myeongnyundang is where local students were taught Confucianism and the Daeseongjeon is where memorial rituals were held annually to honor five great Confucian sages.

Like most hyanggyo built on a sloped surface, the shrine building is higher than the study hall. On level land the configuration is generally reversed, with the shrine coming first to indicate its importance.

Address: 경기 과천시 중앙동 81.

(Designated Cultural Property Material #9).