| Munmyo | |
|---|---|
 Daeseongjeon in Munmyo | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Confucianism |
| Location | |
| Location | 53 Myeongnyun-dong 3(sam)-ga,Jongno District,Seoul, South Korea |
 Interactive map of Munmyo | |
| Coordinates | 37°35′07″N126°59′48″E / 37.585338°N 126.996688°E /37.585338; 126.996688 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Temple, Hall |
| Established | 1398 |
| Designated | 1964-11-10 |
| Reference no. | 143 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 문묘 |
| Hanja | 文廟 |
| RR | Munmyo |
| MR | Munmyo |
Munmyo (Korean: 문묘;Hanja: 文廟;lit. Temple of Confucius), also calledSeoul Munmyo orSeonggyungwan Munmyo, is Korea's primary temple of Confucius. It is located in centralSeoul,South Korea, on the campus ofSungkyunkwan University.
Munmyo houses a shrine to Confucius known as Daeseongjeon, or "Hall of Great Achievement." The main gate leading to the shrine Sinsammun, literally "Spirit Three Gate", is open only on special occasions such asSeokjeon Daeje. The central gate is reserved for the spirit of Confucius and his disciple, and no one else may enter through this gate. Past this gate is the central path that leads to Daeseongjeon, and visitors may not cross this path, especially during a ceremony when the gates are open.[1] The courtyard is used for theSeokjeon Daeje ceremony. Munmyo also contains two other halls (Dongmu andSeomu, east and west hall), two dormitories (Dongjae andSeojae, east and west dormitories), a Confucian lecture hall calledMyeongnyundang, a library calledCheonggyeongdang, andJinsasikdang which is the dining hall.[2][3]
The Munmyo is based onConfucian practices from China, whereConfucius and followers of his teachings were honored and venerated. Temples dedicated toConfucius and other disciples called "temples of Confucius" became widespread during theTang dynasty. This idea was brought toKorea where it was adopted. The buildings of Munmyo were first constructed in 1398, but they were destroyed in a fire in 1400, and rebuilt in 1407. The temple was again destroyed duringJapanese invasions of Korea in 1592–1598, and the Daeseongjeon was rebuilt in 1601, and Myeongnyundang in 1606 with funds raised by students ofSungkyunkwan. Repairs to the temple were conducted in 1869.[4][5]
Apart from Confucius, thefour closest associates of Confucius (Yan Hui,Zengzi,Zisi,Mencius), ten philosophers praised by Confucius, six Song dynastyneo-Confucians are also honoured in the temple.[6] Also enshrined in the temple are 18 notable Korean confucians called the "Eighteen Sages of Korea" or the "Eighteen Confucian Scholars of the East" (Korean: 동방18현;Hanja: 東方十八賢), or Canonised Sages (配享先生). They are, in the chronological order of enshrinement:Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn,Seol Chong,An Hyang,Chŏng Mong-ju, Kim Koengp'il, Chŏng Yŏch'ang,Cho Kwangjo,Yi Ŏnjŏk,Yi Hwang,Cho Hŏn,Yi I,Sŏng Hon,Kim Jang-saeng,Song Si-yŏl,Song Chun-gil, Pak Sech'ae, Kim Inhu, andKim Jip.[7]
A ritualMunmyo jerye (Korean: 문묘제례; Hanja: 文廟祭禮) orSeokjeon Daeje, which involves music and dance, is held there each year in the spring (April) and autumn (September); the ritual features ancient music of Chinese origin calledMunmyo jeryeak (Korean: 문묘제례악; Hanja: 文廟祭禮樂), which is a form ofaak.
The musicians are provided by theNational Gugak Center. The instruments used include flutes (hun,so, and bamboo flutes), zithers (seul andgeum), stone chimes (pyeongyeong), bronze bells (pyeonjong), various drums played with sticks, tiger-shaped wooden scraper (eo), wooden box (chuk), and wooden clappers (bak).
Munmyo is designated by the South Korean government as Historic Site No. 143.
Media related toMunmyo at Wikimedia CommonsAuthority control databases: National |
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