From atop Daramjae, a pass linking Hyeonpung to Dodong-ri, a sweeping view of the Nakdonggang River valley can be gained.

Dodong Seowon is a historic Confucian academy perched on a bank of the Nakdonggang River.

The name "Dodong" literally means 'the way of Neo-Confucianism arrives in the east.' Along with Sosu Seowon and Dosan Seowon, Dodong Seowon is one of Korea's five largest Confucian academies. Bordering the Nakdonggang River on its right side, the Confucian academy sits at the foot of Daemisan Mountain.

A stately ginkgo tree, aged nearly 400 years, greets visitors at the entrance of this classic gem of Joseon’s Confucian academy architecture. Ginkgo trees outside a Confucian academy are nothing unusual in Korea. As the legend has it, Confucius himself taught students while sitting under a gingko tree.

However, this is no ordinary ginkgo tree. This tree was planted four centuries ago by Hangang Jeong Gu. In time, this ginkgo tree has become a symbol of the spirit of Korean Confucian scholars and their scholarly pride.

From Suwollu, the pavilion that serves as the front entrance to the Confucian academy, one can catch glimpses of the Nakdonggang River, nearby Goryeong and its environs. Suwollu, whose name means 'the moon reflected on water,' is a great relaxing spot for enjoying the surrounding view while giving wings to one's poetic imagination.

Past Suwollu lies Jungjeongdang, the seminar hall.

Geoinjae and Geouijae, two buildings that used to serve as student dormitories, are located on either side of Jungjeongdang. The overall plan emphasizes hierarchy and order, with all main buildings distributed to form one straight line and annexes placed in the rest of the area.

An important function of a Confucian academy is to perform memorial ceremonies for past sages, known as "hyangsa."

Behind Jungjeongdang is a shrine, located at the most elevated spot of the precincts. In the yard on the west side of the shrine is a square stone slab called "saengdan." Animals to be sacrificed for the memorial rite are placed on the saengdan and checked for any signs of unsoundness or unwholesomeness. At the front of the shrine, near its stone base, there is Jeongnyodae, a stone light stand.

On the day of a memorial ceremony, scholars first stop by at Suwollu to pick up and put on a formal overcoat before heading to Jungjeongsang. The name "Jungjeong" means achieving propriety and righteousness by not leaning toward any one direction and keeping balance; in other words, choosing the middle way or practicing moderation.

Suwollu Gate is closed at noon, and no visitors are allowed into Dodong Seowon's precincts after this time. Scholars gathered at Jungjeongdang, after exchanging brief greetings, proceed to performing the almyorye, a ritual to announce their arrival to spirits.

They then head out to the saengdan, located on the right side of the shrine, to perform the seongsaengnye. A seongsaengnye is the ritualized inspection of a pig that will be sacrificed for the memorial ceremony.

Next on the program is bunjeongnye during which they together decide the role each participant will play in the ceremony. The respective roles of the participants are written down and pinned onto a board called "bunjeongpan." The bunjeongpan is then shown to all in attendance including the officiants before it is hung beneath the signboard at the front entrance of the shrine.

Neo-Confucian scholars, as people who emphasize rationality and harmony in all things, demonstrate their commitment to these values even in small procedures such as these.

Likewise, after the prayer text is drafted, the manuscript is passed around so that everyone in attendance can read it beforehand.

At around six thirty in the evening, food offerings are placed on the altar, which act is known as "jinseol." The pig slaughtered and offered at the altar is called "huisaeng"; in other words, 'sacrifice.' The sacrificed animal is placed so that its head faces the east. One half of the sacrificed animal is offered at the altar of Hanhwondang Kim Goeng-pil and the other half at the altar of Hangang Jeong Gu.

The ritual proper begins past midnight, at around two o'clock on the following morning. The ritual is separately performed for Kim Goeng-pil and Jeong Gu.

There are three libations, each known as "choheonnye," "aheonnye" and "jongheonnye."

They bow first to the spirit tablet of Hanhwondang Kim Goeng-pil, then to the tablet of Hangang Jeong-gu.

After the third and last libation, all in attendance, except the officiant who made the first libation, bow twice to the altar.

The ceremony ends when the spirit tablets are covered up, and all exit the shrine.

Although the hyangsa ceremony is similar to other types of memorial rites in its basic characteristics, the strong emphasis on procedural rationality sets it apart. Aside from the manner in which the hyangsa ceremony is performed, the Neo-Confucian world view is also quite apparent in the architectural details of Dodong Seowon.

For Neo-Confucians, moral and spiritual growth comes before scholarship, and knowledge is nothing if not practically applied.

Even in modern-day Korea, Confucian academies draw a continuous stream of visitors who are inspired to follow in the footsteps of past scholars and emulate their noble commitment to putting their ideas into action. The hyangsa ceremony in particular fulfills an important function of keeping Confucian scholarly tradition alive.