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Open-Air Exhibition

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CYBER GALLERY
Open-Air Exhibition

Chunghyeonsewon Site

Chunghyeonseowon was the only seowon("Confusian aca-demy") in the Geumcheon region, and, moreover, it was a saaekseowon("Confucian academy named by a king") because it had a hanging board with the new name provided by a king. Yi Wonik tried to build Ihyeonsa, a shrine dedicated to Gang Gamchan and Seo Gyeon, but he could not realize his desire. Twenty five years later after his death residents of the region erected Samhyeonsa, a shrine dedicated to Yi Wonik as well as the two sages. Samhyeon means 'three sages' who were the pride in the Geumcheon region. Samhyeonsa became called Chunghyeonseowon after receiving a hanging board with the new name on it from King Sukjong in 1676(second year of king Sukjong's reign).

It was destroyed by fire in 1862(thirteenth year of king Cheol-jong's reign), and rebuilt in 1869(sixth year of King Gojong's reign). Due to the ordinance of Heungseondaewongun(father of King Gojong) to suppress seowons in 1864, however, it finally went down. Now, only some remaining foundation stones demonstrate there was a seowon. In the site, there is a stone landmark saying "Munbidae", and som artifacts on disply including Samhyeonsagi by Heo Mok, Chunghyeonsauryang-mun by Yi Gyeongseok, and hanging boards of Chunghyeonsa and Chunghyeonseowon.

General View of Chunghyeonseowon

Since the Chunghyeonseowon site is covered with grasses at all seasons, and includes a big zelkova tree, it has a different mood by season. There remain no buildings, but only some foundation stones that demonstrate there was a seowon. Nevertheless, the site is still an essential place for the evens of the family and the museum. The site seen from the Pungyokdae looks calm, harmonized with the pavilion.

Structure of Chunghyeonseowon

There are two paths toward the seowon: one along the walls of Ori Yeong-u and the other behind the museum. Both of the two pass through the inner gates connected with the walls of the jongga. The gates feature some traits of the Korean traditional house such as the gable roof and the double-layered eaves. They look somewhat small compared to the height of the walls since they were built small to match with other buildings during their rebuilding.

Stylishness of Chunghyeonseowon

At a corner of the Chunghyeonseowon site, there is a stone landmark saying "Munbidae," which silently informs visitors of the function of a seowon. Samhyeonsagi and hanging boards near a wall of the jongga are displayed in the lonely site. Visitors are welcomed by peony blossoms in spring and persimmon trees in autumn as well as a five-storied pagoda which stands vacantly at all seasons along the alley toward the site.