Travel Gwangju: [Nam_Gu/Attraction] Gwangju Hyanggyo

Gwangju Hyanggyo

Are you interested in history?

Do you like to see a Hanok that’s less crowded and meaningful?

Then, come to Gwangju Hyanggyo which used to be a local educational center in Joseon Dynasty.

Also, it is #9 of designated tangible cultural assets of Gwangju.

01 ｜Visit

First, I’ll show you the map

Imagine yourself at Gwangju Hyanggyo as you read my explanations with the map

Before you enter Gwangju Hyanggyo, you’ll see two kinds of Stele

One is Hyanggyo Bigak

It’s built for celebrating the construction

It’s written about the history and those who had involved in developing this Hyanggyo

Second one is Hamabi which is little smaller than the first one

Hamabi means “Regardless of social status or age, dismount from the horse.”

It means keep quiet and be holy when you pass here because it’s a sacred place for Gongja

Now, can we go in?

We’re now at Waesam gate
It means “outside three doors” which functions the same as Nesam gate

But the difference is only a king or mayors could enter through Waesam gate when

There is this view if you come through Waesam gate.

Do you see the Sujae and Naesam gate?

The Sujae and Dongjae are in pairs,

Dongjae used to be the dormitory of nobleman’s children but now, it is being used as the bride’s waiting room when traditional weddings are being held.

Long ago, it was a place for studying tradition, drinking tea, or a resting room for a bride,

Sujae was a dormitory for commoners’ children.

Right now, it is being used as an office for the principal of Hyanggyo.

This is Myeongryundang, facing each other with Naesam gate.

It is structured with 8 rooms like school it means House of “Lighting Humanity”

They studied in Q&S form of “Gang”

Currently, they are teaching advanced Chinese characters with Confucian scriptures 4 su 5 gyeong.

It is a Chinese characters lecture room for any boys and girls.

Then, should we walk into the Naesam gate?

The Naesam gate means “three doors inside”,

It is the entrance and an exit of Daesungjun, it serves as the boundary of the school and Sadang.

Like the natural law of rising and setting sun, they come in from the east and exit to the west.

The Jung gate is only available for when preparing for sacrificial food, utensils used in ancestral rites, and written prayer.

If you open the Naesam gate, you can see Daesungjun

The Daesungjun means “the palace of Confucius” and it keeps Confucius’, his disciples, and scholars’ ancestral tablet.
At Feburary and August of lunar calendar, there is memorial service called Sukjundaeje on the day of Sungjungil.

Confucian scholars gather around at Seonggyunggwan and 234 other Hyanggyo to keep this service.

It is designated as the 85^th intangible cultural asset.

Inside Naesam gate, there is a numinous nurse tree

so don’t miss it.

Because it is not a capital but is a rural educational institution, it is small and the structure of Hanok was looking beautiful and meaningful.

This place is not good only for educational purposes but also for taking pictures!!

The source of Gwangju Hyanggyo information is www.gjhyanggyo.or.kr

02 ｜Information