The purpose of this study is to examine the trends and characteristics of operating seowon in Chungcheong-do and Jeolla-do through the foundation and operation of Seonggok-seowon located in Geumsan, Jeolla-do in late Joseon. Seonggok-seowon was founde...
The purpose of this study is to examine the trends and characteristics of operating seowon in Chungcheong-do and Jeolla-do through the foundation and operation of Seonggok-seowon located in Geumsan, Jeolla-do in late Joseon. Seonggok-seowon was founded in 1617 under the leadership of Geumsan-gun County Governor Lee Ahn-nul and local intellects. Along with the foundation, six figures, Lee An-nul (李安訥), Kim Sun (⾦侁), Yoon Taek (尹 澤), Gil Jae (吉再), ⾦淨 (Kim Jung), Go Gyong-myong (高敬命), and Cho-hun (趙 憲), were selected and enshrined. All of the figures enshrined were either directly or indirectly related to Geumsan. The official approval at the national level was promoted in 1663 (the 4th year of King Hyeonjong’s reign).
Seonggok-seowon was operated by academy managers, and they consisted of three positions: Dongju (洞主), Jangeui (掌議), and Yusa (有司). They led the operation and education of the seowon, and it was similar to seowon located in the area near Geumsan. The students of the seowon can be checked through the books containing the list of enrolled students, and it was operated flexibly with students from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 195 annually.
The seowon’s regular ritual rites were held twice, in the second and eighth lunar months, and as the majority of people related to the seowon attended the rites, various issues within the seowon were decided then. The regulations related to education present learning procedures and punishment rules for students in detail.
Seonggok-seowon was also visited from various areas outside. The existing guest books of the seowon contain total 711 people who visited there in the 18th century, and they are identified to have been the descendants of the enshrined figures, influential families in the region, and bureaucrats. They visited Seonggok-seowon while passing through the Geumsan area or for the purpose of attending the two regular ritual rites.
As described above, Seonggok-seowon as one of the private seowon representing the Geumsan area not only performed the functions of ritual rites and education but acquired a social status through the visits of outside people as well.