Sungkyunkwan

Sungkyunkwan
Myeongnyundang Lecture Hall of Sungkyunkwan
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization	Seonggyungwan
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏnggyun’gwan

Sungkyunkwan, was the foremost educational institution in Korea during the late Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties. It is located in its original location at the south end of the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus of Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea. Today, it is managed by the local government. Twice a year in May and September, the ceremonial rite Seokjeon Daeje is performed in the Munmyo Shrine portion of the old campus to honor Confucius and the Confucian sages of China and Korea.

Gukjagam (국자감, 國子監), the highest educational institution during the Goryeo Dynasty, was established in November 992 by King Seongjong in Goryeo's capital city, Gaegyeong (개경) (Modern day Kaesong. It was originally a palace outbuilding called Taemyon (태묜).

In 1089, under the reign of King Munjong new official buildings were constructed.

Its name was changed to Seonggyungam (성균감) in 1298.

In 1304 it was reestablished by Neo-Confucian scholar An Hyang who is considered the founder of Neo-Confucianism in Korea.

The name was changed to Seonggyungwan in 1308 under reign of King Chungnyeol.

The name was changed back to Gukjagam in 1358 during the reign of King Gongmin.

In 1362 the name was changed back to Seonggyungwan.

After the founding of the Joseon Dynasty in 1392, King Taejo decided to relocate Sungkyunkwan to Hanyang, modern day Seoul, and also founded 360 Hyanggyos nationwide in July 1398, establishing a national education system.