Gimpo Hyanggyo Confucian School김포향교

About

Gimpo Hyanggyo Confucian School is said to have first been built in 1127, though this is not certain. The school originally stood at the foot of the hill where Gimpo Girls' Comprehensive High School is now located. When a royal tomb was established there, it was moved to Geolpo-ri in Gimpo-eup, and later moved again to its present site. The buildings have been repaired several times since the 1960s, giving them their current appearance. The educational area, made up of Myeongnyundang Hall and the east and west dormitories (Dongjae and Seojae), sits at the front, while the ritual area, made up of Daeseongjeon Shrine and the east and west side shrines (Dongmu and Seomu), stands at the back. There is also a Jaesil (a hall for preparing rites), along with two entrance gates: the outer Oesammun and the inner Naesammun. Daeseongjeon is three bays wide and three bays deep, with a gabled roof that looks like the character 人 when viewed from the side. Myeongnyundang is five bays wide and two bays deep, and unlike Daeseongjeon, it has a hip-and-gable roof shaped like the character 八 when viewed from the side. While a Myeongnyundang usually has a room at each end, the one at Gimpo Hyanggyo is a single open space. The school is a good example of a small Confucian school from the late Joseon period, built with just a Daeseongjeon and a Myeongnyundang.