What is "munmyo"

Munmyo (more specifically Seoul Munmyo or Sung Kyun Kwan Munmyo) is Korea's primary Confucian shrine ("munmyo" is also the general Korean term for "Confucian shrine"). Also, Munmyo Bae-hyang (문묘배향, 文廟配享) was considered the highest honor a scholar could achieve during the Joseon Dynasty. There were only 18 of them that were granted this honor and were called the 18 Sages of Korea or the 18 Confucian Scholars of the East (Dongbang 18 Hyeon, 동방 18현, 東方 18賢). It is located in central Seoul, South Korea, at 53 Myeongnyun-dong 3(sam)-ga, Jongno-gu, on the campus of Sungkyunkwan University.

Munmyo houses a shrine to Confucius known as Daeseongjeon, or "Hall of Great Achievement." The main gate leading to the shrine Sinsammun, literally "Spirit Three Gate", is open only on special occasions such as Seokjeon Daeje. The central gate is reserved for the spirit of Confucius and his disciple, and no one else may enter through this gate. Past this gate is the central path that leads to Daeseongjeon, and visitors may not cross this path, especially during a ceremony when the gates are open. The courtyard is used for the Seokjeon Daeje ceremony. Munmyo also contains two other halls (Tongmu and Somu, east and west hall), two dormitories (Tongjae and Sojae, east and west dormintory), a Confucian lecture hall called Myongnyundang, a library called Chonggyongdang, and Chinsashiktang which is the dining hall.