Gyeongbuk Province, 'Hogye Seowon' Relocation and Restoration as an Opportunity for 400 Years of Conflict in Yeongnam Confucian Scholars' 'Great Unification'

Seoae and Hakbong Teachers' Spirit Tablets Ranking 'Byeonghosibi' Concluded
Lee Cheol-woo "Symbol of Gyeongbuk's Spiritual Culture Opening a New Era"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] The centuries-old conflict (Byeongho Dispute) between the Seoae (西厓) Ryu Seong-ryong (1542?1607) family and the Hakbong (鶴峰) Kim Seong-il (1538?1593) family, representing the Yeongnam Confucian scholars, has been given new meaning of reconciliation through the 'reestablishment' (復設, reinstallation) of Hogye Seowon.

The Hogye Seowon Reestablishment Promotion Committee (Chairman Noh Jin-hwan) held a Goyu-je (ancestral rite) event at Hogye Seowon on the 20th, creating a grand occasion for complete resolution of the long-standing conflict among Yeongnam Confucian scholars. Goyu-je is a ritual performed at Jongmyo (Royal Ancestral Shrine) or Gamyos (family shrines) to report significant matters of state or personal affairs.

About 50 people attended the Goyu-je, including Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province; Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of Gyeongbuk Office of Education; Yoon Dong-chun, Chief of Gyeongbuk Police Agency; Kwon Young-se, Mayor of Andong City; as well as heads of various organizations and representatives of Confucian scholars, commemorating the reestablishment of Hogye Seowon together.

Lee Cheol-woo, who attended as the chief ritual officer, emphasized, "The reestablishment of Hogye Seowon is a result of grand unity achieved through consensus among Yeongnam Confucian scholars," adding, "It will become a symbol of Gyeongbuk's spiritual culture that opens a new era of harmony, respect, and coexistence." He further stated, "This message of great harmony and coexistence will serve as a spiritual cornerstone to successfully lead the construction of the integrated new airport and the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk, which will determine the region's future."

Hogye Seowon is one of the representative seowon (Confucian academies) of the Joseon Dynasty. It was originally established as Yeogang Seowon in 1573 and was renamed Hogye Seowon in the 2nd year of King Sukjong's reign (1676) when it was officially recognized.

After being demolished during the Daewon-gun's seowon abolition order, only the lecture hall was rebuilt seven years later. In 1973, due to the construction of Andong Dam, it was relocated below Imha Dam, but concerns over moisture damage to the seowon buildings led local Confucian scholars to request its relocation and restoration.

Accordingly, Gyeongbuk Province invested a total of 6.5 billion KRW from 2013 to relocate and restore Hogye Seowon to Seobu-ri, Dosan-myeon, and by the end of last year, it was reestablished on the site of the Korea Institute of Korean Studies in Dosan-myeon, Andong City. Designated as Gyeongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Property No. 35, Hogye Seowon consists of 13 seowon buildings on a 10,000㎡ site.

The reestablished Hogye Seowon marks the end of the 400-year-old conflict among Yeongnam Confucian scholars known as the 'Byeongho Dispute' (屛虎是非). The Byeongho Dispute refers to three disputes that arose over the seating order (rank) during the enshrinement of Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, a disciple of Toegye, and Hakbong Kim Seong-il.

The conflict between Byeongsan Seowon and Hogye Seowon over the seating order of the memorial tablets of Hakbong and Seoae within Hogye Seowon caused a division among Yeongnam Confucian scholars for over 400 years, deepening the rift and splitting the community.

This long-standing conflict was finally resolved through mediation by Gyeongbuk Province, agreeing to enshrine Ryu Seong-ryong to the east of Toegye's memorial tablet, Kim Seong-il to the west, and Kim Seong-il's disciple Lee Sang-jeong beside him, thus ending the long-standing discord among Yeongnam Confucian scholars.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.