| Daegu
Hyanggyo founded 1398, rebuilt 1598 onward
other
sites in Daegu |
Daegu, Korea |
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Image adapted from Taegu Yoksa Gihaeng (Visiting Taegu's Historic Places, c. 1996)
Taegu Hyanggyo was one of many public academies built in the early Joseon dynasty to educate the sons of the Yangban aristocracy. As state supported schools, the hyanggyo of Korea are to be distinguished from the many private sowon academies built in the latter half of the Joseon dynasty. Although many hyanggyo remained in use until the end of the dynasty or beyond, their influence began to dwindle from the mid 16th century onward as the private academies increasingly recruited students from the most important families.
The founders of the Joseon dynasty hoped to use the institution of hyanggyo to teach Confucian virtues to the sons of the aristocracy. They desired to bring about a harmonious state where the "five bonds" and "three relations" held sway, culminating in the rule of sage kings mirroring the rule of Yao and Shun in ancient China. Although the founders succeeded to a large extent in steering Korean normative values toward Confucianism, they did not bring about a transformation in politics. By the end of the dynasty, factionalism and self-interest were all too often at the forefront of of the political agenda.
Taegu Hyanggyo was originally built in 1398, just seven years into the Joseon dynasty. It was burned in the Imjin war of 1592-98 along with many other cultural treasures, but was rebuilt in 1598 near present-day Talsong park. It was moved back to its former location soon afterward, but was then transferred to its present site as the city expanded. The hyanggyo was renovated and repaired in 1973, and memorial services to Confucian worthies are held here even today.
Bibliography
All images copyright 2000 Abe Ahn and
Tim Ciccone
Information from signposts on site
Taegu Yoksa Gihaeng (Visiting Taegu's
Historic Places, c. 1996)