Sŏnggyun'gwan


Sŏnggyun'gwan was the foremost educational institution in Korea during the late Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties. The Sŏnggyun'gwan during the Joseon Dynasty sits in its original location, at the south end of the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus of Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea. The Sŏnggyun'gwan during the Goryeo Dynasty, however, remains situated in Kaesong, North Korea. 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 and the Confucian sages of China and Korea.

Etymology

  • sŏng : accomplish, achieve. To become capable, successful or to win. “To perfect or develop human nature”.
  • gyun : balance, to be. Strengthen culture according to social standards or norms. “To build a good society”.
  • gwan : institute, academy, university.

    History

Sŏnggyun'gwan 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, Sŏnggyun'gwan 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 nationwide, Sungkyunkwan University was established.

Design features

The old campus was designed based on geomancy. Sŏnggyun'gwan was built with the mountains behind it to the north and the front facing south towards water. 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 Sŏnggyun'gwan was Hanja. Sŏnggyun'gwan'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. Like their Chinese counterpart, these examinations were on writing ability, knowledge of the Confucian classics, and proposals of management of the state. Technical subjects were also included to appoint experts in medicine, interpretation, accounting, and law. The original set number of students was 150 when Sŏnggyun'gwan 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 Sŏnggyun'gwan were extremely harsh and were only allowed for the sons of yangban, the Joseon era upper class or royalty. There were two ways to be accepted into Sŏnggyun'gwan. 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

Notable alumni

  • Yi Kae
  • Hwang Hŭi
  • Chŏng Inji
  • Ch'oe Hang
  • Munjong of Joseon
  • Sin Sukchu
  • Sejo of Joseon
  • Kim Chong-jik
  • Cho Kwangjo
  • Yi Hwang
  • Hyujeong
  • Yi I
  • Yu Sŏngnyong
  • Kim Jang-saeng
  • Yun Sŏndo
  • Hŏ Mok
  • Yun Hyu
  • Gwon Sang-ha
  • Park Mun-su
  • Yeongjo of Joseon
  • Jeongjo of Joseon
  • Chŏng Yagyong
  • Pak Kyusu
  • Choe Ik-hyeon
  • Kim Ok-gyun
  • Park Eun-sik
  • Yi Tongnyŏng
  • Shin Chae-ho
  • Jo So-ang