E2024-G134

Hwanbyeokdang Pavilion and the Literati of 16th-Century Korea

Narrative

Hwanbyeokdang Pavilion was established circa the mid-16th century by the civil official Kim Yun-je (1501-1572) as a place to teach his students. The pavilion’s name, Hwanbyeokdang, means “Hall of Jade Surroundings” in reference to the pavilion’s lush natural environment. The pavilion and its surroundings were designated as a Scenic Site in recognition of the area’s cultural and natural significance.

Born in Gwangju, Kim Yun-je passed the state examination in 1531 and served several official posts. However, after the Literati Purge of 1545, he retired to his hometown and built this pavilion. The pavilion became a gathering place of the Confucian community where the greatest scholars of the time built close friendships while admiring nature, writing poetry, and enjoying music. In particular, the civil official and renowned poet Jeong Cheol (1536-1593), who was Kim Yun-je’s most famous disciple, stayed here for about 10 years in his youth, being taught by respected scholars and engaging in academic pursuits. Other renowned figures known to have frequented the pavilion include Go Gyeong-myeong (1533-1592), Gi Dae-seung (1527-1572), and Kim In-hu (1510-1560).

The pavilion features a hip and gable tile roof and consists of two underfloor-heated rooms on the left, a wooden-floored hall on the right, and a wooden veranda along the front. It stands atop a hill along the banks of Jeungamcheon Stream. This stream is also known as Jamitan, meaning “Pool of Magenta Crape Myrtles,” in reference to the colorful crape myrtle blossoms that are said to have once bloomed here. The pavilion’s name plaque was calligraphed by the renowned scholar Song Si-yeol (1607-1689).

The pavilion is also closely associated with the nearby Soswaewon Garden, founded by Kim’s brother-in-law Yang San-bo (1503-1577), and Sigyeongjeong Pavilion, founded by Kim’s nephew Kim Seong-won (1525-1597). Thus, the pavilion is an important testament to the active Confucian community in the Gwangju area during the Joseon period (1392-1910).

Story Map

• Mudeungsan: Sacred Mountain, Natural Wonder, Cultural Heart
  • Mudeungsan UNESCO Global Geopark: Unique Geological Formations of International Renown
  • Mudeungsan Mountain: Where Monks and Literati Meet
  • Mudeung Landscape Course: A Cultural Journey Through Nature
  • Hwanbyeokdang Pavilion and the Literati of 16th-Century Korea
  • Mudeungsan Mountain: Where the Traditional Ceramic Industry Thrived
  • Kim Deok-ryeong: Legend of Mudeungsan Mountain
  • Scenic Beauty: Mudeungsan’s Columnar Joints