Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies World Heritage Site

Official name

Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies | UNESCO

Country

South Korea | Map

Continent

Asia

Location

36.7272° Lat, 128.8434° Lon | Map

Code

1498

Time Zone

Asia/Seoul (KST, +0900)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2019. The property is located in central and southern parts of the Republic of Korea, and comprises nine seowon , representing a type of Neo-Confucian academy of the Joseon dynasty (15th -19th centuries CE). Learning, veneration of scholars and interaction with the environment were the essential functions of the seowons , expressed in their design. Situated near mountains and water sources, they favoured the appreciation of nature and cultivation of mind and body. The pavilion-style buildings were intended to facilitate connections to the landscape. The seowons illustrate a historical process in which Neo-Confucianism from China was adapted to Korean conditions.