Hanok (한옥, 韓屋) is Korean traditional house architecture built in Joseon dynasty, 14th century. The Korean traditional architecture so-called Hanok exists from Joseon dynasty.
In Joseon dynasty, the scale of Hanok was differed by social classes. Some Hanok was designed for Yangban, whose social class was aristocrats. Yangban’s Hanok was called 기와집(tile-roofed house) while peasants Hanok was called 초가집(straw-thatched roofed house) their appearances are different and the former was more prosperous house. They are both called Hanok, but most of the cases 기와집 is entitled modern city Hanok. The both of them are important architectural history equally meaningful, modern city Hanok is built upon the conception of 기와집, so is explained for.
Hanok has philosophical meanings into it. 통(通) and 광(光) which have meanings accordingly by English vocabulary “passing thru” and “thru sunshine” installed their unique architectural structures to Hanok.
通 for example, is deeply rooted at 배산임수(背山臨水) landscape where low mountain is back of the house, and pond is in front of it, which has geographical character of wind and sunshine’s natural phenomena upon the house. In Joseon dynasty, 배산임수 geomancy was considered as best place to build house. The wind was blocked by the low mountain, and wind from the pond is cooling the weather down and it has entitled with philosophical ideas in 풍수지리(風水地理) principles. It is experimentally proved that with experiential science, its determination of best place to build Hanok is meaningful although the language to put it is old style cult.
In 풍수지리(風水地理) principles, 통(通) was applied to wind, it determined architectural structure to Hanok. In Korea, every summer, wind is blown to the Hanok from southeast. Hanok architects manipulated doors with tilted angle to the direction of each doors according to the windy direction wind passes through, wind moves from the main entrance onto inner-doors, and warmed up air convectively moves higher away to the open place, arrived at the center of frontyard. It makes environmentally friendly way to cool down the summer.
光, for another science, 채광(采光) is also concerned, which is thought of Korean ancestry’s wisdom Hanok researchers study on an environmentally friendly science. The Earth fixed axis of rotation around is tilted, so altitude of sun is different from summer to winter. In the summer, high altitude sun’s emission of sunshine was blocked by longer eaves, and in the winter, sunshine is welcomed by lower altitude of the sun to take whole rays into the floor, so winter is warmer, summer is cooler, it is also environmentally friendly natural architecture for Hanok.
The 통(通) and 광(光) architecture of Hanok is often thought of Korean people’s wisdom which lives with the nature. Modern houses built upon air-conditioning system, which pollutes air by chlorofluorocarbons, is not environmental friendly, in contrast of, Hanok’s way is friendlier to the nature more than modern house architecture. Hanok ancestry did not dare to change their surrounding nature as artificially tailored way, rather lived with them.
Recent 10 years, there has been culturally sensational boom arisen in estate industry about Hanok. The government fostered their renovation of remaining Hanoks and construction is encouraged for tourism purpose and many people built their Hanok style home to cities. It is so-called city Hanok, which is research topic in various fields.
The city Hanok has similar appearance from traditional form, but reformed by modern materials and basic standard of living (e.g. electricity). It is very boom in recent 10 years even though the construction cost is higher than the construction of Western style houses. In concerning appearance of aesthetics, many tourists satisfied their view to city Hanok.
The emotional resonance felt upon the architectural beauty, it is also good place for tourism.
The city hanok has beauty in its appearance and makes comtemplators feel they are standing on the ground of Korea. Hanok continues to evolve, and has many integrations of aestheticity and functionality. Its modernized processes have itself research topic, both history and architectural engineerng. It gives storytelling to people in this way that it is sufficient communication when people want to know about Korean culture.
In this blog, I will post series of writings regarding Hanok and its cultural aspects. If you travel Korea, it must see city Hanok villages. Let me ponder up more topics about city Hanok.