Exploring the Historic Myeongjae House in Nonsan
Hello, this is Dalmu-ri, a citizen reporter.
I recently traveled to the southern region and passed through Nonsan, where I saw a sign for Myeongjae House.
I considered just passing by, but the weather was pleasant, and this place holds many memories for me, so I decided to take a detour and visit Myeongjae House.
Myeongjae House was the residence of the scholar Yun Jeung during the reign of King Sukjong of the Joseon Dynasty.
Currently, the descendants live there and maintain the house, offering a traditional Hanok stay.
Myeongjae House is famous for its Baengnok trees.
I used to visit often with my wife to photograph the Baengnok flowers, and seeing them in winter was a refreshing experience.
The structure of Myeongjae House follows the traditional Hanok style, resembling the shape of a square.
There are many jars around Myeongjae House, and if you go near them, a pleasant aroma fills the air.
Next to the jar storage area is a ginkgo tree, and I recalled taking photos with the yellow ginkgo leaves as a backdrop during autumn.
Although it has been over ten years, that memory remains vivid.
Behind the jar storage area, there is a path leading up to the mountain.
Following this path leads to a viewpoint and the Seonbi Steps, but I chose not to go that way.
The mountain isn't very high, so it wouldn't be difficult, but I wasn't in the mood for a hike.
Standing here, Myeongjae House comes into view, with the rows of jars and the traditional house harmoniously arranged.
There used to be no fence, but now there is one, so you can't go beyond it.
I noticed a sign pointing to the nearby Nohseong Gwollisa.
I was curious about it since I could see it from Myeongjae House, and it was only a 200m walk, so I decided to take a leisurely stroll.
The Gwollisa is a shrine dedicated to Confucius, but the door was closed.
The name Gwollisa is derived from the village of Gwonri, where Confucius was born and raised.
The premises include various buildings such as Hyeonsongdang, the inner gate, Gwollisa, Moseongjae, the administrative office, and the study hall.
After exploring Gwollisa, I headed to Nohseong Hyanggyo, which was right next to Myeongjae House, and the door was wide open.
Hyanggyo was a local educational institution during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties.
Nohseong Hyanggyo features an outer gate, an inner gate, the dormitory for students, the administrative building, the study hall, and the main hall where the spirits of sages are enshrined.
The caretaker insisted that I should definitely see the main hall.
In the main hall, there are portraits of Confucius and other sages, including Anja, Jeongja, Zisa, and Mencius.
A unique feature is the portrait of Confucius, which is not a painting but a lithograph that captures the details of his beard.
It is believed that this lithograph was created around 1720 by a member of the Qing Dynasty royal family.
I felt a sense of relaxation while visiting Myeongjae House, Gwollisa, and Nohseong Hyanggyo.
The daytime temperatures are gradually rising, and on the day of my visit, it was warm enough that I felt a bit hot in my thick coat.
Flowers were blooming along the roadside, signaling that spring is truly arriving, so I encourage you to dress lightly and explore Myeongjae House.
Head to Nonsan, filled with the scent of strawberries.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/sinmunman/224230847098
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