Gwangajeong House in Yangdong, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.442

Category

Architecture

Era

조선시대 중기

Designated year

1966

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 강동면 양동마을길 121-47 (양동리)

Coordinates

35.999469, 129.252010

Gwangajeong House was the house of Ujae Son Jung-don (1463∼1529), known as a cheongbaengni (clean-handed government officer) during the reign of King Jungjong of the early Joseon Dynasty. Located on a hillside, the house consists of a sarangchae (men’s quarters) and an anchae (women’s quarters) configured like the Korean letter 'ㅁ'. The house consists of a main courtyard at the center, sarangchae in the south, and anchae, with the sadang (ancestral shrine) erected northeast of the anchae. The house is walled on three sides, while the front side is open, looking out at the open scenery in front of the house. Usually, the gate of such houses would have been linked with the haengnangchae (servants’ quarters); however, the gate of this house is linked with the sarangchae. The sarangchae, or male quarters, was a space in which the male host would entertain guests and sometimes live; a sarangbang and a wooden floor are situated on the left-hand side of the gate. The wooden floor is a numaru, i.e. a floor with an open front side, where a signboard inscribed with the word 'Gwangajeong' is hanging on the top. The ondol-heated room, kitchen and small rooms are situated in the right side to the gate, and Korean letter 'ㄷ' shape of Anchae is in front of them. The anchae, or female quarters, was a living space for the females of the house. It consists of a kitchen, anbang (main room), large main hall and storehouse, and is linked with the sarangbang in the sarangchae. Its square pillars look simple; however, the round pillars of the sadang and numaru at its rear side look quite grand. Handrails are installed along the sarangbang and numaru, and the roofs of the snchae and sarangchae are linked together to form one roof. Gwangajeong House is an important cultural asset for the study of mid-Joseon houses in the southern region of Korea.

Location