Obong Seowon | Attraction Guide | K-Travel Mate

Obong Seowon was first established in the 11th year of King Myeongjong of Joseon (1556) after Hamheon, the magistrate of Gangneung, returned from a diplomatic mission to China with a portrait of Confucius painted by Wodoja. In the 16th year of Myeongjong (1561), it was initially founded. Later, in the 6th year of King Jeongjo (1782), Zhu Xi was enshrined together, and in the 6th year of King Sunjo (1806), Song Si-yeol was also enshrined. The seowon was responsible for ancestral rites and local education. Due to Heungseon Daewongun's policy to abolish seowon, the seowon was destroyed and its portraits and spirit tablets were moved to Gangneung Hyanggyo. The current seowon was rebuilt in 1903, when the Confucian scholars of the Gangneung area built the shrine building called Jipseongsa, and next to the shrine built another temple called Chilbongsa. Remaining structures include Jipseongsa, Chilbongsa, the gate, Obong Gangdang, Myojeong Bigak, and two memorial tablets. Jipseongsa enshrines the spirit tablets of Confucius, Zhu Xi, and Song Si-yeol, while Chilbongsa houses Hamheon's tablet. The lecture hall consists of a wooden floorroom and an ondol room and is used for various events and as a place for scholars to gather and debate scholarly topics. Ancestral rites are held annually on the 2nd day of the 9th lunar month.