This article was written to examine the establishment patterns and characteristics of seowon(confucian academies) in the Chungju region during the Joseon Dynasty. Various county annals and geographical records introduce seowon in the Chungju region, with most county annals notably citing Palbong Seowon, Ungok Seowon, Nuam Seowon, and Chungnyeolsa Shrine. This is understood to relate to whether they received Title Boards, but as these seowon are judged to represent the Chungju region, their establishment and character are examined below. The fi rst seowon established in Chungju during the Joseon Dynasty was Palbong Seowon, followed by Ungok Seowon, Nuam Seowon, and Chungnyeolsa Shrine. Among these seowon, Palbong Seowon and Ungok Seowon are considered to hold symbolic signifi cance as the origins of the scholarly community in the Chungju region. This seowon acquired a political character during the period of its excessive expansion period. However, in the case of Palbong Seowon, it is diffi cult to view it as confi ned to a specifi c faction; this is likely due to the stature held by the figures venerated at Palbong Seowon within the Chungju region. Further examination of the individuals who spearheaded this during the Title Boards stage appears necessary. In the case of Ungok Seowon, under the leadership of the Namin faction, the removal and recovery of the title boards occurred repeatedly in response to political upheavals or the political conditions. In the Chungju region, after the late 17th century Nuam Seowon and Chungnyeolsa were established as centers for political public opinion. Nuam Seowon, initiated by Jeong Ho, served as a stronghold for the Noron’s political public opinion, especially by enshrining his teacher Song Si-yeol and Min Jeong-jung, who had resided in Chungju. Chungnyeolsa also appears to have been led by the Noron, and this shrine, in particular, became a symbolic space for promoting Sinocentrism.
G. H. Lee (Thu,) studied this question.