Seodang
Encyclopedia
Seodang were private village schools providing elementary education during the Goryeo
and Joseon
dynasties of Korea.
The teacher or headmaster of the seodang was called the hunjang. The seodang were divided into various kinds depending on the hunjang's motivation and relation to the community:
The course of study typically began with the Thousand Character Classic
, and proceeded to independent reading of the Three Books and Five Classics. The teaching method emphasized rote learning by reading and memorizing an assigned passage each day; after reading the passage more than 100 times over, students would recite it to the hunjang.
In the 20th century, many seodang were modernized and known as "improved seodang" (개량 서당), and eventually accredited as primary schools during Colonial Korea
. This was part of a dramatic expansion of private education in this period; from 1883 to 1908, some 5,000 private schools were established in Korea. Beginning in 1918, regulations on private education became much more stringent and repressive; the number of seowon dropped sharply. Many of the seodang that did survive became low-level technical academies, or ganihakgyo (간이학교).
A small number of seodang operate today in South Korea as private academies providing extracurricular instruction.
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
and Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
dynasties of Korea.
Background
They were primarily occupied with providing initial training in the Chinese classics to boys of 7-16 years of age, but often served students into their twenties. Not regulated in any fashion, seodang could be freely opened and closed by anyone who wished to. Widespread during the Goryeo period, these flourished during Joseon times and were the dynasty's most common educational institution. It has been estimated that 16,000 existed at the end of the Joseon period.The teacher or headmaster of the seodang was called the hunjang. The seodang were divided into various kinds depending on the hunjang's motivation and relation to the community:
- Hunjang jayeong seodang (훈장자영서당, 訓長自營書堂): Seodang established by the hunjang, as a hobby or to make a living.
- Yuji dogyeong seodang (유지독영서당, 有志獨營書堂): Seodang established by a wealthy member of the community, who hires the hunjang.
- Yuji johap seodang (유지조합서당, 有志組合書堂): Seodang established by an organization of wealthy locals.
- Chonjohap seodang (촌조합서당, 村組合書堂): Seodang established by an entire village together.
The course of study typically began with the Thousand Character Classic
Thousand Character Classic
The Thousand Character Classic is a Chinese poem used as a primer for teaching Chinese characters to children. It contains exactly one thousand unique characters. It is said that Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty commissioned 周興嗣 to compose this poem for his prince to practice calligraphy...
, and proceeded to independent reading of the Three Books and Five Classics. The teaching method emphasized rote learning by reading and memorizing an assigned passage each day; after reading the passage more than 100 times over, students would recite it to the hunjang.
Historical change
The nature of the seodang changed in the course of the Joseon period. While early in the dynasty they were purely private academies, they increasingly became village institutions. New social institutions such as the gye cooperatives, which emerged in the 19th century, often centered on the village seodang, as did the older hyangyak village codes.In the 20th century, many seodang were modernized and known as "improved seodang" (개량 서당), and eventually accredited as primary schools during Colonial Korea
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
. This was part of a dramatic expansion of private education in this period; from 1883 to 1908, some 5,000 private schools were established in Korea. Beginning in 1918, regulations on private education became much more stringent and repressive; the number of seowon dropped sharply. Many of the seodang that did survive became low-level technical academies, or ganihakgyo (간이학교).
A small number of seodang operate today in South Korea as private academies providing extracurricular instruction.
External links
- Empas entry on the gaeryang seodang
- Self-introduction by an operating seodang in Yangpyeong
- Korean Seodang Educational Association (in Korean)
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- Education in the Joseon DynastyEducation in the Joseon DynastyEducation in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea was largely aimed at preparing students for government service. The ultimate goal of most students was successful passage of the state examinations, known as gwageo....
- Korean ConfucianismKorean ConfucianismKorean Confucianism is the form of Confucianism developed in Korea. One of the most substantial influences in Korean intellectual history was the introduction of Confucian thought as part of the cultural influence from China...
- Joseon DynastyJoseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...