Perspective views

View of Imcheonggak estate.
Drawn based on a CAD model created by Timothy M. Ciccone.

Axonometric drawing of the main living area of the house and the detached pavilion.
Drawn from a CAD model created by Timothy M. Ciccone

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Imcheonggak Estate - 임청각 (臨淸閣) (built 1515 onward)

Imcheonggak estate stands at the southern edge of a low hill to the east of Andong. It is located near the Sinsedong pagoda, the oldest and largest pagoda in all Korea. This site was once the home of Beophungsa temple, which survived into the Goryeo era (918-1392) but gave its name to the surrounding district--Beophungdong. On this site the house that was to become Imcheonggak was founded in 1515 by a member of the Goseong Yi family, whose descendents flourished here for many generations.

The house is one of the largest private houses surviving from the Joseon era (1392-1910). Its present size of about 50 kans (a kan is the measure of the space between four columns arranged in a square) is much smaller than the 99 kans it reportedly once had. Auxilliary servants' quarters and accessory buildings (called busokchae) disappeared during the early and mid twentieth century. Fortunately, the main bulk of the house survives along with the byeoldang (detached annex) and the sadangchae (ancestor shrine).

The rooms of the house are arranged so that the plan of the house resembles the Chinese character for "use" (see right). This was considered one of the more auspicious arrangements a house could take. It was also practical, since it allowed for the creation of multiple courtyards for different functions. Houses of this arrangement are quite rare considering the size needed to form such a shape. One other famous example is the Hyangdan house in Yangdong.

Adjacent to Imcheonggak is Gungajeong pavilion, a byeoldang (detached pavilion) where the master of the house studied, entertained his friends, and took in the view of the river to the south. Unfortunately, this view is now largely cut off by a noise-reduction wall built along a large elevated highway in front of the house. Now the view from the house is extremely constricted.

According to GPS readings collected by the author, the site sits at 36 33.88421' N, 128 44.62392' E (WGS 84 map datum). Address: 경북 안동시 법흥동 20.

(Designated Important Folklore Property #182).