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Choe Dae-seok House (16th century onward) other
sites in Gangneung |
Gangneung, Korea |
Click on an image to enlarge
It is not known when this structure was built, but inscriptions carved on the ends of roof tiles on the barn and the husband's quarters (sarangchae) give the dates 1691 and 1804. The house sits at the base of Mount Mosanbong, where twenty-four generations of the same family have lived.
The most notable feature of the house is the L-shaped wall shielding the inner quarters (anchae) from view as one enters the main gate. The inner courtyard is further shielded from prying eyes by the staggered entrances on the south side of the courtyard.
From afar, the house is very imposing. Two exhaust chimneys flank either side of the gateway like stone sentinels. This is a fairly unusual feature that is employed here to great effect.
The house is located at 37 43.94013 degrees north, 128 54.36870 degrees east (WGS 84 Datum), according to GPS readings taken on site by the author.
(Designated Gangwondo Tangible Cultural Property No. 81.)
Below: Plan of the house. Adapted
and modified from Hangukui Geonchuk Munhwajae 3 (Architectural Heritage
of Korea, v. 9).
Bibliography:
All images copyright 2005 Tim Ciccone
The author wishes to thank Lee Baek-kyu, a local resident, for his broad knowledge of Gangneung history and assistance in visiting numerous local sites
Park, Kyung-Rip. Hangukui Geonchuk
Munhwajae 3 (Architectural Heritage of Korea, v. 9).
Kimoondang Publishers. Seoul:
1999.
Cultural Properties Administration