Sungkyunkwan () was the foremost educational institution in

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

during the late

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

and

Joseon Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

Dynasties. The Sungkyunkwan during the

Dynasty sits in its original location, at the south end of the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus of Sungkyunkwan University in

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

. The Sungkyunkwan during the

Dynasty, however, remains situated in

Kaesong Kaesong (, ; ) is a special city in the southern part of North Korea (formerly in North Hwanghae Province), and the capital of Korea during the Taebong kingdom and subsequent Goryeo dynasty. The city is near the Kaesong Industrial Region cl ...

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

. At the South Korean Sungkyunkwan, twice a year, in May and September, the ceremonial rite Seokjeon Daeje is performed in the Munmyo Shrine, to honour

Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...

and the Confucian sages of China and Korea.

Etymology

*Sung () – accomplish, achieve. To become capable, successful or to win. “To perfect or develop human nature”. *Kyun () – balance, to be. Strengthen culture according to social standards or norms. “To build a good society”. *Kwan () – institute, academy, university.

History

Sungkyunkwan was established in Hanyang on September 25, 1398. It was renamed, destroyed, and rebuilt several times. In 1895, it was reformed into a modern three-year university. During the colonial era (between 1910 and 1945), Sungkyunkwan was demoted to a private institution and renamed Gyeonghagwon (), while Korean education was prohibited and Japanese education was forced nationwide. After Korea gained independence in 1945, Gyeonghagwon's original name was restored and with funding from Yurim ( Confucians) nationwide, Sungkyunkwan University was established.

Design features

The old campus was designed based on

geomancy Geomancy, a compound of Greek roots denoting "earth divination", was originally used to mean methods of divination that interpret geographic features, markings on the ground, or the patterns formed by soil, rock (geology), rocks, or sand. Its d ...

. Sungkyunkwan was built with the mountains behind it to the north and the front facing south towards water (the Han River and Bansu, the creek that used to run around the front of the campus). This was based on superstition as well as function. The sunlight and wind patterns were considered most ideal when the buildings were arranged this way.

Education

The primary written language of Sungkyunkwan was Hanja. Sungkyunkwan's teachings were mainly Confucian-related, and were primarily aimed at preparing students for government service. Students also studied law, medicine, interpretation, accounting, archery, mathematics, music, and etiquette. But the main goal was for the students to pass the higher national civil service examinations (''gwageo''). Like their Chinese counterpart, these examinations were on writing ability, knowledge of the

Confucian classics The Chinese classics or canonical texts are the works of Chinese literature authored prior to the establishment of the imperial Qin dynasty in 221 BC. Prominent examples include the Four Books and Five Classics in the Neo-Confucian traditi ...

, and proposals of management of the state (governance). Technical subjects were also included to appoint experts in medicine, interpretation, accounting, and law. The original set number of students was 150 when Sungkyunkwan was founded, which was raised to 200 in 1429. All of the students were male and women were forbidden from entering the campus. Entrance examinations for Sungkyunkwan were extremely harsh and were only allowed for the sons of

yangban The ''yangban'' () were part of the traditional ruling class or gentry of dynastic Korea during the Joseon period. The ''yangban'' were mainly composed of highly educated civil officials and military officers—landed or unlanded aristocrats wh ...

, the Joseon era upper class or royalty. There were two ways to be accepted into Sungkyunkwan. Either the students had to pass the two admission exams, Saengwonsi () and Jinsasi (), or take the other two examinations, Seungbo () and Eumseo. If they passed these examinations, they were given the opportunity to be accepted. Students lived very comfortably on full scholarship and were waited on by servants.

Images

File:1000 won serieIII obverse.jpeg, The 1000 KRW banknote shows Confucian scholar

Yi Hwang Yi Hwang (; 1501–1570) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. He is considered the most important philosopher of Korea - he is honored by printing his portrait on the 1000 South Korean won banknote, on ...

and Myeongnyundang. File:Old Sungkyunkwan map from 1785.jpg, This map from 1785 shows the original campus of Sungkyunkwan. Most of the buildings to the west are gone. File:Sungkyunkwan Bicheondang.jpg, Bicheondang File:Sungkyunkwan Daeseongjeon.jpg, Daeseongjeon, with the doors open. File:Sungkyunkwan Jongyeonggak.jpg, Jongyeonggak, Korea's oldest library. File:Sungkyunkwan Myeongnyundang.jpg, The lecture hall of Sungkyunkwan. File:Sungkyunkwan Seomu.jpg, This building enshrines tablets to the great Confucian scholars. File:Sungkyunkwan Sinsammun.jpg, Sinsammun opened its doors for APAIE delegates on 17 March 2014. File:Sungkyunkwan Tangpyeongbigak.jpg, Tangpyeongbigak 서울문묘의은행나무.jpg, Ginkgo tree natural monument 59 possibly planted 1398

Notable alumni

* Yi Kae (1417–1456) * Hwang Hui (1363–1452) * Chŏng Inji (1396–1478) * Choe Hang (1409–1474) * Munjong of Joseon (1414–1452) * Shin Suk-ju (1417–1475) * Sejo of Joseon (1414–1468) * Kim Chong-jik (1431–1492) * Jo Gwang-jo (1482–1519) *

(1501–1570) * Hyujeong (1520–1604) * Yi I (1536–1584) * Yu Sŏngnyong (1542–1607) * Kim Jang-saeng (1548–1631) * Yun Seon-do (1587–1671) * Heo Mok (1587–1682) * Yun Hyu (1617–1680) * Gwon Sang-ha (1641–1721) * Park Mun-su (1691–1756) *

Yeongjo of Joseon Yeongjo (; 31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776), personal name Yi Geum (), was the 21st monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Sukjong by his concubine, Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Haeju Choe clan. Before asc ...

(1694–1776) * Jeongjo of Joseon (1752–1800) *

Jeong Yak-yong Jeong (the Revised Romanization spelling of ) may refer to: *Jeong (surname) *Jeong (given name) Jeong, also spelled Jung or Jong, Chung, Chong is a single-syllable Korean given name, and an element in many two-syllable Korean given names. Its ...

(1762–1836) * Park Gyu-su (1807–1877) * Choe Ik-hyeon (1833–1906) * Kim Ok-gyun (1851–1894) *

Park Eun-sik A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...

(1859–1925) *

Yi Dong-nyeong Yi or YI may refer to: Philosophic principle * Yi (philosophy) (义; 義, righteousness, justice) among the Three Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant Virtues Ethnic groups * Dongyi, the Eastern Yi, or Tung-yi (Chinese: , ''Yí''), ancient pe ...

(1869–1940) * Shin Chae-ho (1880–1936) * Jo So-ang (1887–1959)

References

External links

*
Official website

Sungkyunkwan UniversityMunmyo
Korean Tourism Site {{Coord, 37, 35, 08, N, 126, 59, 45, E, display=title Education in Joseon Tourist attractions in Seoul 14th-century establishments in Korea Historic Sites of South Korea 1398 establishments in Asia Jongno District Korean Confucianism