Hangul 국학 Revised Romanization Gukhak | Hanja 國學 McCune–Reischauer Kukhak | |
The Gukhak, was the sole recorded institution of higher learning in the Silla period of medieval Korean history. It provided training in the Chinese classics. An earlier institution, the Taehak, had been founded in 372.
The Gukhak was established early in the Unified Silla period, in 682 (the second year of King Sinmun). During the reign of King Gyeongdeok (r. 742-765) its name was changed briefly to Daehakgam (대학감, 大學監) but reverted to Gukhak during the following reign of King Hyegong (r. 765-780). Like its counterpart in Tang China, the Gukhak was established primarily to train local officials in the Confucian classics and the composition skills requisite for the governance of an enlarged Silla state. The establishment of such an institution was increasingly critical by the 7th century with the maturation of Silla's bureaucratic system modeled upon that of Tang China.
The Gukhak was superseded by the Gukjagam, which was established in Gaegyeong in 992 during the Goryeo dynasty.