A Study on Management and Finances of Piram-Seowon during the Joseon Dynasty

A unique insight into the financial and operational dynamics of Piram-seowon, a UNESCO-listed Korean Neo-Confucian academy, reveals its late Joseon Dynasty management structure and sustainability. The study highlights that Piram-seowon's finances were primarily sustained through slave labor—centered on maternal lineage—and tax-exempt farmland, maintaining a balance between income and expenditures while supplementing funds via donations. Its governance was hierarchical, with leadership roles filled by Neo-Confucian scholars or high-ranking officials, while local officials and elected literati managed other positions. The academy's guestbook, detailing over 3,000 visitors since the mid-17th century, provides a rare regional and genealogical record of its influence. This research underscores Piram-seowon’s role as an exemplary model for understanding Seowon operations during this period.

(Ed.). (2024). A Study on Management and Finances of Piram-Seowon during the Joseon Dynasty. Daedong Hanmun Association, 79, 79–120. https://doi.org/10.21794/ddhm.2024.79.79