Songseogwon
Joseon-era poetry site later became Byeoksusanjang mansion.
Songseogwon is the name for the area around lot 47, Ogin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, centered on the Ongnyudong Valley. It became notable from the mid-Joseon period for its scenic beauty and for hosting the Okgye Poetry Society, a Wihanng literature movement led by the jungin class. The name Songseogwon replaced the earlier name Okgye after the poetry gatherings held there by Cheon Su-gyeong.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Lot 47, Ogin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Notable feature
- Ongnyudong Valley flowing from Inwangsan
- Historical period of prominence
- Mid-Joseon period
- Key figure
- Cheon Su-gyeong
- Poetry society
- Okgye Poetry Society (Songseogwon Poetry Society)
- Mansion built on site
- Byeoksusanjang
Facts from the source article.
History
Ongnyucheon, a tributary of Cheonggyecheon, includes the Ongnyudong Valley stream. The Jangdong Kim clan settled near Inwangsan when Kim Sang-yong built a villa at Cheongpunggye in 1608. His brother Kim Sang-heon lived west of Yuksanggung and wrote about a spring on Inwangsan in his essay "Yuseosangi" after his mother fell ill. Kim Su-hang, Kim Sang-heon's grandson, built Yukcheongheon in Ongnyudong in 1683 and added Cheonghwigak in 1686. After Kim Su-hang was executed in the Gisa Hwanguk of 1689, Yukcheongheon fell into disuse. His son Kim Chang-jip rebuilt it, but after his own execution in the Sinchuk Oksa, descendants built Dokchungdang there. Cheonghwigak passed to Kim Chang-eop, who rebuilt it in 1715. Behind it was Gajaewumul, a well that still exists at lot 47-376, Ogin-dong, though now covered with iron bars and concrete. Yukcheongheon's location is estimated around lot 47-73, Ogin-dong.
Byeoksusanjang
Byeoksusanjang was known for its Yang-gwan, a three-story Western-style building with one basement level, built in dark brown brick modeled after a French mansion. It used stone sparingly for columns, windows, and quoins, and imported architectural materials from Germany. After liberation, it was called Ppyojukdang for its spire and Geumbuneogijip for a glass aquarium in the reception room ceiling. The Yang-gwan was destroyed by fire in 1966 and demolished in 1973. Surviving outbuildings include the Seo Yong-taek house and the Park No-su house. Three of four original gateposts remain, and traces of brick wall and archway survive at lot 62, Ogin-dong. Some residents reused materials from the site after the fire.
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