Into the Confucian Andong

Hahoe Yangjindang

At the center of Hahoe Town is this great old family house of the Pungsan Yu family. This was the old house of ‘Gyeomam’ Ryu Un Ryong. The name Yangjindang comes from the pen name of Yu Yeong. the sixth grandson of Gyeomam, because of his great contributions to the family. These contributions include, for example, a full repair of the jongtaek as well as of the Gyeomam Jeongsa, and the Jaesa in Neung-dong. He also completed the family pedigree. The tablet of the house name is hung in the main hall of the sarangchae, so it cannot be seen from outside. Yangjindang is largely composed of a sarangchae, anchae, haengnangchae, and sadang. The layout is in a square to which the anchae and sarangchae are added. Inside the tall main gate lies the majestic sarangchae that shows of the character of a great old family with a long history.

Hahoe Chunghyodang

Designated Cultural Property No.414, Chunghyodang is well known as the old house of ‘Seoae’ Yu Seong Ryong. After retiring from over 40 years of clean public service, he returned to his hometown and died in a small straw-thatched house in Pungsan Seomi-dong. Later his descendents built this building to commemorate his scholastic achivements. The name Chunghyodang comes from his teaching for his descendents to devote themselves to their country and parents. It is seated in a site facing the west that overlooks Yangjindang, the eldest great family house of the Pungsan Yu family. While Hahoe Town is divided into a south and north village, Chunghyodang is a house representative of the south village. The construction consists of a haengnangchae (12 kans), sarangchae (12 kans), anchae (27 kans), and sadang (6 kans), with a total size of 57 kans. Within the jongtaek is Yeongmogak, the exhibition hall for Seoae’s relics. One thing unique about this house is that the haengnangchae with the tall main gate is unusually large at 12 kans.

The Yean Yi Family’s Chunghyodang

Designated Cultural Property No.553, Chunghyodang Jongtaek is the old house of Yi Hong In the second son of Yean Yi Family’s 16th grandson Yi Jeon. When the Japanese invaded Joseon in 1592, old Yi Hong In led a voluntary army and died during a battle against the Japanese in Pungcheon Gudam. His eighth grandson Yi Han Oh gained a reputation for his filial conduct. The house was named Chunghyodang to commemorate the loyal subject and the dutiful son, and its annex was named Ssangsudang because both of them were trained with loyalty and filial piety. This house stands at the eastern end of the wide Pungsan field on the backdrop of a low mountain. The residence of over 40 kans is composed of a square jeongchim in which the tablet of Chunghyodang is hung on the right, the Ssangsudang on the left, and a jeongja in which the tablet of Baekwondang is hung.

Imcheonggak and Gunjajeong

Incheonggak was built by Yi Jeung, the mayor of Yeongsan-hyeon who loved the natural beauty of Andong, while he was living in Andong. Imcheonggak was originally a large mansion with 99 rooms which was the largest size permitted for a private house. However, it was demolished by the Japanese imperialists at the end of the Joseon Dynasty when the central railroad was constructed in front of the house, leaving only a little over 50 rooms which remain to this day. The tiles of Imcheonggak turned reddish brown due to the oxidized steel of train wheels. It is pitiful to think that the tyranny of the Japanese rule reaches even to the present. Gunjajoeng, an annex-type pavilion of Imcheonggak was built by Yi Myeong the third son of Yi Jeung during the reign of King Jungjong. As one of the rare old wooden buildings that survived the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, along with the Geungnakjeon of Bongjeongsa, it has a high historical as well as architectural value. The name Imcheonggak originated from the poem “Gui Geo Rae Sa” by Doyeonmyeong, and is also famous for the writing of the poem by ‘Toegye’ Yi Hwang (1501~1570). In January 21, 1963, both Imcheonggak and Gunjajeong were designated Cultural Property No. 182.

Cheonggye Jongtaek

On the road from Andong downtown to Yeongdeok, a south-facing village of grand houses appears on the left roadside. This is Naeap, the main town of the Uiseong Kim family, a town that boasts five hundred long years of inheritance. The Uiseong Kim family settled down here and began prospering from Cheonggy Kim Jin’s generation on. During the Japanese occupation, they produced many independence movement leaders, and gained fame as the cradle of the anti-Japanese movement. The unique layout and configuration of this residence is straight line-shaped sarangchae and square anchae connected with a haengnangchae and other annexed buildings, forming the shape of the Chinese character for snake (巳). For the overall layout of buildings, unlike the typical square, the anbang (inner room) of the anchae is raised outward while the large wooden floor faces east. In addition, the jongtaek has a sadang and library. The sadang is on a hill at the north of the bonchae. The Cheonggye Jongtaek draws people’s attention because it is an outstanding aristocratic house of the Joseon Dynasty whose architecture clearly shows off the features of a public space shared by the whole family and all relatives.

Sohoheon

The Sohoheon is found in Mangho-ri, Iljik-myeon, Andong-si. The name Sohoheon comes from the fact that a person named Sosirang lived in the late Goryeo Dynasty, and there was a lake in front of the village. This house is designated as Cultural Property No. 475, and it is said that the classical scholar Seohae lived here during the reign of King Jungjong of the Joseon Dynasty. Originally this was the house of Yi Go, the fifth son of Yi Myeong who served as the mayor of Cheongpung-gun. He however handed it over to his son in law, Seohae. The building at the east was the birthplace of Seoseong, the son of Seohae. Sohoheon is a single-story wooden annex building of four kans on the front and two kans on the side. Although it has paljak roof, the annexed rooms have a matbae roof. The old techniques shown in the details of the architecture are important materials for the study of private houses in the Joseon Dynasty.

Bongjeongsa

Annexed to the main temple Gounsa of the 16th Parish of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Bongjeongsa was built by the great Buddhist priest Uisang in 672 (12th year of King Munmu). A legend says that Uisang flew a paper crane from Buseoksa in Yeongju, which came down and sat here, where they built Bongjeongsa. Wooden buildings that were built in different times, such as Geungnakjeon built at the end of Goryeo Dyansty, Daeungjeon built in early Joseon Dyansty, Gogeumdang and Hwaeomgangdang built in the middle of Joseon Dynasty are gathered here. Tt has the pen name “a museum of old architecture”. Even novices could enjoy the beauty of Korean old architecture while examining the features of each building and comparing their differences. Combining the holiness of a temple and the elegance of old architecture, it is the finest example of Andong's tourist attractions.

Bongjeongsa Geungnakjeon

Geungnakjeon is a single-story jusimpo house with a matbae roof, 3 kans (one kan is 5.965 ft) on the front and 4 kans on the side. According to Mukseomyeong discovered during the dismantlement and repair in 1972, the okgae part was repaired in 1368, which was usually carried out in an interval of 100 to 150 years after the construction. From this, it is estimated that the building was constructed 100 or 150 years before then. Therefore, this is the oldest wooden building that remains in Korea, which was constructed in Goryeo Dynasty and inherited the mode of architecture from the Unified Shilla Period. It was designated National Treasure No.15 on December 20, 1962.

Bongjeongsa Daeungjeon

The main hall of Bongjeongsa, Daeungjeon is a single story dapo-style building with a paljak roof, of three kans on the front and three kans on the side. Some parts of the building, such as the windows and walls between pillars, and the framework has the dapo-style features. The furniture types in the building and the simple but sound construction method also reveal the features of the dapo style. There is a veranda in front of the front pillars, which is a unique feature for a main hall.
The internal paintings are highly valuable as they show pictures of the time of the foundation in excellent colors and contain elements of the Goryeo Dynasty. From the mukseomyeong discovered during the partial dismantlement and repair in 1962, it is estimated that this building was built in the early Joseon Dynasty. It was designated Cultural Property No.55 in January 21, 1963.

Bongjeongsa Gogeumdang

Of three kans on the front and two kans on the side, Gogeumdang originally had a matbae roof, but it was later reconstructed to a paljak roof. The structure is of the jusimpo house line with gongpo arranged only above the pillars. Judging from the fact that the shape of cheomchas comprising the gongpo lost the features of early Joseon Dynasty, this building was built around the middle of the Joseon Dynasty. It was designated Cultural Property No.449 on June 23, 1967.

Bongjeongsa Hwaeomgangdang

Hwaeomgangdang has a jusimpo-line matbae roof, and is three kans on the front and two kans on the side. According to the sangnyangmun discovered during the dismantlement and restoration in 1969, this building was repaired in 1588 (21st year of King Seonjo). Balanced and stably constructed, this is a valuable example of the history of Korean traditional architecture. It was designated Cultural Property No.448 on June 23, 1967.

Dosan Seowon

This is a private school where they perform ancestral rites for ‘Toegye’ Yi Hwang. He founded Dosan Seodang in 1561, the 16th year of King Myeongjong and improved his scholarship and personality there. After his death, Dosan Seowon was built over Dosan Seodang at the suggestion of men of letters. In 1572, the 5th year of King Seonjo, it was determined to the memory of Yi Hwang should be enshrined with a memorial tablet in Sangdeoksa, and Sangdeoksa was completed in 1576. King Seonjo granted a tablet on which Dosan Seowon was written by Han Ho, a noted calligrapher. Dosan Seowon is placed in a comfortable dale facing the Andong Lake behind Yeongjisan Mountain around the Nakdonggang River. If you follow the path between Dosan Seodang and Nongun Jeongsa, you can see Jindomun and Dongseo Gwangmyeongsil on both sides. As soon as you enter a gate, you can see Jeongyodang in front with Bakyakjae and Honguijae on both sides. Sangdeoksa is on a high place over Jeongyodang and Jangpangak, and Jeonsacheong is on the left of Sangdeoksa.

Jeongyodang of Dosan Seowon

Jeongyodang, designated Cultural Property No. 210, is 3 kans on the front and 2 kans on the side, a single-story wooden building with a paljak roof. Built in 1574, the 7th year of King Seonjo, it is a lecture room placed at the center of the educational space in Dosan Seowon. The east building Bakyakjae and the west building Honguijae are located in the front yard. Jeongyodang had repairs done in 1969, and was built on a stone embankment composed of long stones that were properly faced toward the south. One right of the buildings is an ondol room, and the main floor is placed toward the East. The Side and the back of the main floor have 10 doors, each made of 2 pieces, per wall, and spaces between the front’s pillars are opened perfectively. Square pillars support a girder, and overall, Jeongyodang is very simple and strict style. One part on the left is an ondol room. If you open the doors toward Sangdeoksa, it is possible to have a salutation on the floor.

Sangdeoksa of Dosan Seowon

Behind Dosan Seowon, Sangdeoksa is a shrine for a memorial tablet of Yi Hwang. Therein is also a memorial tablet in memory of Jomok. It was established in 1574, the 7th year of King Seonjo, though the present buildings had some repairs done on them in 1969. The scale is 3 kans on the front and 2 kans on the side, and at the side of the roof one can see the paljak style. The scale of the front gate, which connects with Sangdeoksa, is 3 kans on the front and 2 kans on the side, and again one may see the paljak style on the sides of the roof. The doors were built when Sangdeoksa was founded. The front pillars are longer than others because of high and low stairs. When Sangdeoksa was being repaired, the mud walls around the shrine were changed into a stone fence. Sangdeoksa is simple and graceful, a truly traditional building of the Joseon Dynasty period.

Byeongsan Seowon

The predecessor of Byeongsan Seowon is Pungak Seodang, located in Pungsan-hyeon. Byeongsan Seowon was moved to present Byeongsan by ‘Seoae’ Yu Seong Ryong in 1572, the 5th year of King Seonjo. After Seoae died in 1604, the 37th year of King Seonjo, his students built Jondeoksa in 1614 the 6th year of King Gwanghaegun, then enshrined his memorial tablet, and renamed Pungak Seodang to Byeongsan Seowon. During the reign of King Cheoljong, it received a tablet from the king, which secured its position. Byeongsan Seowon is placed on the southeast slope of Hwasan Mountain facing the south towards the Byeongsan cliff across the Nakdonggang River. When you enter Oesammun Boknyemun under the slope, a pond is on the left and some high stonework is across the pond. When you go up the stairs of the stonework, you can see the rare sight of the big Mandaeru standing from the east to the west. When you pass the bottom of it and go up the stairs again, you can see the lecture room Ipgyodang across a garden and the education space where Dongjae and Seojae face each other in front of it. Outside of the fences over Dongjae is a square house called Juso.