seowon

File:Korea-Andong-Gosan Seowon-01.jpg

{{Transliteration|ko|rr|Seowons}} first appeared in Korea in the early Joseon Dynasty, whose establishment were driven mainly by the Sarim Neo-Confucian scholars.{{Cite book |last=Shin |first=Michael D. |title=Everyday Life in Joseon-Era Korea |publisher=Global Oriental |year=2014 |location=Leiden · Boston |pages=201–203 |language=en}} While the exact year of {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowon}} introduction in Korea is not known for certain, in 1418 King Sejong issued rewards to two scholars for their work in setting up {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowons}} in Gimje and Gwangju.Park et al. (2002), p. 70. The first {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowon}} to receive a royal charter was the Sosu Seowon in Punggi, presided over by Toegye, which was given a hanging board by King Myeongjong in 1550.Park et al. (2002), p. 70; (1984), p. 207. While historian Michael Shin mentions that the earliest {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowon}} was established in North Gyeongsang by Ju Sebung (1495–1554).

Large numbers of {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowons}} were established by leading {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seonbi}} (literati), or by local groups of {{Transliteration|ko|rr|yangban}} families. Some of the Sarim scholars who retired to villages in the wake of literati purges of the 16th century used the {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowons}} as their political bases.

They were modeled after early private Chinese academies of classical learning {{Transliteration|zh|shuyuan}}. The latter originated in the 8th century under the Tang dynasty, and were later dismantled under the Yuan dynasty to become preparatory schools for the imperial examinations under government control.

Most {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowon}} were closed by an edict of the regent Daewon-gun in the turbulent final years of the 19th century. He banned the unauthorized construction of {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowons}} in 1864, and removed their tax exemption in 1868; finally, in 1871, he ordered all but a handful closed.(1984), p. 262. The provincial {{Transliteration|ko|rr|yangban}} were outraged by these measures, and this is among the reasons that Daewon-gun was driven from power in 1873; however, the {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowon}} remained closed.

{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site

| WHS = Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies

| image =

| image_upright =

| caption =

| includes = Nine seowon sites in South Korea

| criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(iii)}}(iii)

| ID = 1498

| year = 2019

| area = {{convert|102.49|ha|acre|abbr=on}}

| buffer_zone = {{convert|796.74|ha|acre|abbr=on}}

| locmapin = South Korea

| map_caption =

}}

{{Transliteration|ko|rr|Seowon}}, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies is a World Heritage Site consisting of a selection of nine {{Transliteration|ko|rr|seowon}}:{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1498/multiple=1&unique_number=2278 |title=Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies: Multiple locations |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |accessdate=6 July 2019}}

• Sosu Seowon, Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• {{ill|Namgye Seowon|ko|함양 남계서원

}}, Hamyang County, Gyeongsangnam-do

• Oksan Seowon, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Dosan Seowon, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• {{ill|Piram Seowon|ko|장성 필암서원

}}, Jangseong County, Jeollanam-do

• {{ill|Dodong Seowon|ko|달성 도동서원}}, Dalseong County, Daegu Metropolitan City
• Byeongsan Seowon, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• {{ill|Museong Seowon|ko|정읍 무성서원}}, Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do
• {{ill|Donam Seowon|ko|논산 돈암서원}}, Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do

File:갈천서원Galcheon Seowon.jpg

In 1741 (Yeongjo 17), when seowon were abolished due the corruption associated with them and because of their role in factional politics, the number of seowon was close to 1,000.

Currently, approximately 150 seowon{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}} are cultural heritage sites in South Korea, with many having been restored. They continue to function as shrines to Confucian scholars who performed some significant service to Joseon, contributed to Joseon learning, or were simply family members, but seowons also may also be used for events, such as academic colloquia. See for example, Gangseon Seowon,{{Cite web |title=강성서원(江城書院) Gangseon seowon |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0001229 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko}} Hyoam Seowon ,{{Cite web |title=효암서원(孝岩書院) Hyoam Seow0n |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0065680 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko}} and Galcheon Seowon.{{Cite web |title=갈천서원(葛川書院) Galcheon Seowon |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0000666 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko}}

• {{cite book|author=Lee, Ki-baik (tr. by E.W. Wagner & E.J. Shultz)|year=1984|title=A New History of Korea (rev. ed.)|isbn=89-337-0204-0|publisher=Ilchokak|location=Seoul|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/newhistoryofkore0000leek}}
• {{cite book|author=Park Eui-soo (박의수), Kang Seung-kyu (강승규), Jeong Yeong-su (정영수), Kang Seon-bo (강선보)|year=2002|title=교육의 역사와 철학 (Gyoyugui yeoksawa cheolhak, History of education and philosophy)|isbn=89-8251-161-X|publisher=Dongmunsa|location=Seoul}}
• {{cite book|author=Seoul National University Educational Research Institute (서울대학교교육연구소)|year=1997|title=한국교육사 (Hanguk gyoyuksa, History of Korean education)|isbn=89-8287-130-6|publisher=Gyoyuk Gwahaksa|location=Seoul}}

{{Commons category|Seowon}}

• Education in the Joseon Dynasty
• Korean Confucianism
• History of Korea
• List of seowon
• Academies (Shuyuan) (Chinese equivalent to seowon)

• [https://artsandculture.google.com/story/6wWRb7zwNxWEZw Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies] UNESCO Collection on Google Arts and Culture
• [http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/koreasouth/andong/byeongsan.php Asian Historical Architecture: Byeongsan Seowon (병산서원), a representative example]

{{World Heritage Sites in South Korea}}

{{Korean architectural elements}}

Category:Education in Joseon

Category:World Heritage Sites in South Korea