Hyanggyo - Confucian School in Yangyang.

Hyanggyo

Inside the classroom at Hyanggyo - the portrait on the wall is a famous Confucian teacher, Gongja, who lived 2,550 years ago

A traditional Korean drum

The outside of the classroom

Kelsey and Aubrey

Later on today (and thanks to Ara's observant eyes on the bus), we went to a Confucian school, or hyanggyo. This particular school was built in 1340 (in the Goryeo Dynasty) in the first year of King Chunghae. It was burnt down during the Korean War and later reconstructed in 1952. Today some classes are still held and the school serves as a shrine.
One of the workers at the school was very eager to let us in and show us around. He showed us the main classroom, which I believe is the shrine dedicated to Confucius (whom he called "Gongja"). There is a sacrificial rite in honor of Confucius at the school in every lunar February and August. He also showed us the individual seats which had stone name plates for the original students--very cool. "You won't see anything like this in Sokcho," he told us (in Korean, of course). "Only in Yangyang."
He also showed us another hall that had photographs of teachers from the three dynasties: the Goseong, the Shilla, and the Joseon. This was the hall with the large traditional drum at one end. It was tremendous to be in the presence of such history. This is undoubtedly the oldest school I have ever visited! Since American history is so recent, it's quite interesting being in a place like Korea, whose history goes much further back. I very much enjoyed seeing the men here restoring the buildings and appreciated their interest in our learning about the school and its great tradition.