Ganghwa Hyanggyo (Ganghwa Confucian School)

Korean name: 강화향교

Incheon

Ganghwa Hyanggyo is a tangible cultural heritage site of Incheon, built as a local school for education and moral teaching. Visitors can see its buildings, such as Daeseongjeon and Myeongnyundang.

About

Ganghwa Hyanggyo, a tangible cultural heritage of Incheon, was an educational institution for local schooling and the moral teaching of local people. It was founded in 1127 in Gocheon-ri, Naega-myeon, during the Goryeo period. It was later moved to Gapgot-ri in Ganghwa-eup in 1232 and then to Boreumdo in Seodo-myeon.

In 1624 Sim Yeol, then the Ganghwa magistrate, moved it to the foot of Songaksan, and in 1629 Myeongnyundang was built and the school was called Hakgung. It was moved near Namsan in 1673 by magistrate Min Si-jung and to its present site in 1731 by magistrate Yu Cheok-gi.

The complex includes Daeseongjeon, Dongmu, Seomu, Naesammun, Myeongnyundang, Dongjae, Seojae and Oesammun. Myeongnyundang was the lecture hall where students studied. With state support such as land, servants and books, the school handled rites and education, but today only its enshrinement role remains.