Eight Confucian Shrine, Ancestral Hall, and Jeongryeogak Sites Built for the Spread of Seongrihak Designated as Treasures

‘Namhansanseong Sungnyeoljeon’, ‘Yeongwol Changjeolsa’, ‘Yeongdong Secheonjae’ and
‘Gimje Naea’, ‘Gyeongju Yeombulsaji East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas’ Also Designated

In Joseon, which introduced Neo-Confucianism, several family shrines (saryo, 祠廟), ancestral halls (jaesil, 齋室), and honor pavilions (jeongryeogak, 旌閭閣) were established. A saryo is a building where ancestral tablets and portraits of ancestors and predecessors are enshrined and rituals are performed. A jaesil is a house where participants in the rituals stay and prepare food. A jeongryeogak is a building where plaques bestowed by the king to loyal subjects and filial sons are hung. All of these primarily served the purpose of ancestral rites but also functioned as educational spaces for descendants. The builders were aristocratic families with strong bases in local rural society, who elevated their family status and solidified their political foundations within the region.

Eight representative Confucian architectural sites are managed as treasures. Since last year, the Cultural Heritage Administration has surveyed over 250 saryo, jaesil, and jeongryeogak sites, evaluated their designation value, and announced on the 24th that eight of them will be designated as treasures. These include ‘Namhan Fortress Sungnyeoljeon,’ ‘Yeongwol Changjeolsa,’ ‘Yeongdong Secheonjae,’ ‘Goheung Yeosansongssi Ssangchung Jeongryeogak,’ ‘Gangjin Haenam Yuns씨 Chuwondang,’ ‘Gangjin Haenam Yuns씨 Yeongmodang,’ ‘Jeonju Jogyeongmyo Jeongmyo,’ and ‘Pohang Sangdaram.’

Namhan Fortress Sungnyeoljeon is a saryo where King Injo enshrined King Onjo of Baekje while staying at Namhan Fortress during the Byeongjahoran (the Qing invasion of Joseon). It was relocated to its current location in 1661 and named ‘Sungnyeoljeon.’ It preserves the simple and restrained 17th-century architectural style and structure, and rituals are still performed there, giving it high historical and cultural value.

Yeongwol Changjeolsa was built to enshrine ten loyal subjects, including the Six Martyred Ministers (Sayuksin). It is generally larger than typical shrines and includes lecture halls, east and west study rooms, and Baegyeonru pavilions where Confucian scholars gathered to study, similar to a seowon (Confucian academy). It was constructed based on historical facts related to King Danjong and reflects 18th-century architectural features such as the use of ikgong brackets, earning recognition for its historical and academic value.

Yeongdong Secheonjae is a jaesil built in 1691 by Park Sepil of the Hwanggan branch of the Chungju Park clan. It holds ancestral rites for three generations: his father Park Jichan, himself, and his son Park Suso. It was also used as an educational space, with independence activist Seong Hasik serving as an instructor and the first vice president Lee Si-young holding lectures on national affairs.

Goheung Yeosansongssi Ssangchung Jeongryeogak was built to honor Song Daerip and his son Sim, who achieved military merits and died in loyalty during the Imjin War and Byeongjahoran. It has a royal honor plaque (jeongryeo) bestowed by the court. The exterior features a multi-bracket style (dapo) eaves, making it ornate. The use of stone pillars and jangchoseok (decorative stone bases) highlights its dignity and decorative qualities.

Gangjin Haenam Yuns씨 Chuwondang is a jaesil enshrining Yun Sabo and his son Kyung, while Gangjin Haenam Yuns씨 Yeongmodang houses the ancestral tablets of Yun Gwangjeon and his sons Danbong and Danhak. Jeonju Jogyeongmyo Jeongmyo is a saryo enshrining the ancestral tablets of Lee Han, the progenitor of the Jeonju Lee clan, and his wife. Pohang Sangdaram is a reconstructed jaesil built to pray for the repose of Son So, a Joseon-era civil official.

Meanwhile, the Cultural Heritage Administration will also designate the ‘Gyeongju Yeombulsaji East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas,’ built in the early 8th century, and the ‘Gimje Naea,’ built in 1749, as treasures. The Naea was a residence where local government officials’ families lived. Along with the Dongheon, where official duties were performed, it offers a glimpse into the daily life of local officials at the time.