Sta Cruz, Pauline V.

KOREAN AR. Yosef Maru Pablo

ARCHITECTURE AR123-1 | A50
BACKGROUND
The early stages of Korean architecture date back to the

Neolithic period; ondol's archeological evidence, the unique

Korean floor panel heating system, has been found among

the remains of the burned plain pottery culture. Korean

architecture had been inspired by the Chinese during the

first century B.C.E. After the unification of the Korean

peninsula into the United Silla kingdom in the seventh

century, The establishment of the Joseon dynasty in 1392

introduced Neo-Confucian principles, embodied in

architectural forms that stressed veneration for ancestors and

advocated practicality, frugality and harmony with nature. A

strong, graceful and elegant architectural style has emerged

throughout Korean society.

GEOGRAPHY

• 70% of the land of Korea was covered by mountains. A Taengniji,

a geographical treatise from the Joseon Dynasty, delineate the

necessity for finding an ideal site for human habitation. It says

that an outstanding topography, ecology, wholesomeness, and

hills and waters are the vitals of an auspicious site.

• This explained why Korean architecture is greatly influenced by

nature. Koreans believe that their traditional architecture is

illogical without it, and that nature’s natural energy will flow into

the people who lives in a house where natural energy exist.

• One of the important factors that influence the design of Korea’s

architecture was topography so that it blended into its local surroundings.

Feng-shui or the practice of geomancy was called pungsu in Korea. In

spite the fact that pungsu was introduced and originated from China,

Korean architecture has showed the influence of this practice most

evidently. Mountains and rivers are highly significant elements in

pungsu.

• pungsu exerted a powerful influence upon the construction of building

sites as well as the placement of structures in Korea for the Korean

peninsula is covered with numerous mountains and rivers that reflects

the natural environment which is well-suited to the principles of

pungsu.

Busan's Geumjeong mountain fortress

 Yangdong Village, South Korea
example of pungsu in Rural Korea
Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries
Korea
GEOLOGICAL
• Korea’s architecture was employed using wood and stone to produce

elegant and spacious room structures. Which are often characterized by

clay tile roofing, courtyards and garden in interior, and enclosures within

protective walls.

• Korea’s construction began with the use of timber columns in buildings

and usually preferred in pine. These were usually not set on the ground but

on a pile of stones.

• Korean architecture uses the process of carving the bottom of a wooden

column to fit the shape of the stones instead of cutting them, this process is

called deombeong jucho.

• Mud was also used and was made stronger by the process of reinforcing it

with straw, others were made waterproof by adding water where seaweed

was boiled.
Clay tiled roofing
Wall of Ganghwa mountain fortress
Timber columns
CLIMATE
• Traditional Korean architecture adopts very well to the Korean climate.

It provides an indoor climate that brings comfort with an additional

minimal technical effort. During the hot and humid season, cross

ventilation provides passive cooling, wide projecting roof provides

shading, roof structure having large thermal mass protects the people

from radiant heat

• Korea’s climate is diverse. During summer, rainfall is heavier than

during winter, the rainy season typically begins in late June or early

Gregorian calendar month.

• There are definite temperature and moisture patters for every season.

Spring is short and is distinguished by the unanticipated onset of heat

that melts the snow of the long and cold Korean winter, notably within

the north. Moreover, the astonishing brown hills and plains suddenly

turn green when the snow melts and harsh March winds subside.

The Seokgatap Pagoda, part of the Bulguksa Temple at Gyeongju

Snow-covered Namhan Sanseong
Traditional Korean House - Hanok
RELIGION

• Korea is where all major religions of the world are present,

Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam, calmly coexist

with shamanism. Among these, Buddhism and Confucianism

have been more compelling than any others upon the life of the

Koreans and over half of the country’s recorded cultural legacy is

related to the two religions.

• Buddhism spread broadly and was ardently transmitted by

the movement of missionaries in Asian regions outside

India during several centuries mostly following the lifetime of

the Buddha. In Korea, Buddhism spread within the fourth

century
• Buddhism was introduced by a monk named Sundo un Korea during

the Koguryo Kingdom period 371 CE. Buddhism appears to have been

well upheld by the ruling individuals of the Three Kingdoms since it

was appropriate as a spiritual prop for their government. Buddha as

the depiction of worship and the ruler as a depiction of authority.

• With this, many Buddhist temples, sanctuaries and cloisters were built

the peninsula , and devotees developed steadily because of the support

of the patron.

Dabotap Pagoda, Gyeongju

 Tongdosa, 646 CE.
South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
Represents the Buddha
 Haeinsa, 802 CE.
South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
Represents the Buddhist teachings (Dharma)
 Songgwangsa, 867 CE.
Mount Songgwangsan, Korean Peninsula.
Represents Sangha (Buddhist community)
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL

• the conventional culture of Kore alludes to the shared

social legacy of the Korean peninsula. Since the mid

20th century, the peninsula has been split politically

which results in having two Korea, the North and South

Korea. This resulted a lot of differences.

• Since 1953, The evolution of North and South Korea

from a common cultural and historical base into two

exceptionally distinctive social orders was drastically

seen and have both the different political and economic

systems.
• North Korea has been intensely impacted by Russian culture

and legislative issues as well as those of China. It has created a

self-styled legislative issues of juche or “self-reliance” which is

based on financial and political freedom, having

a exceedingly centralized political framework with a “Great

Leader” at its pinnacle and a command economy.

• North Korea created into maybe the foremost separated and

controlled of all communist states, and indeed 10 a long

time after the collapse of the Soviet Union, appeared small sign

of political and financial liberalization in spite

of serious financial hardship.

• While in South Korea, it has been significantly impacted by

the Joined together States and in a more inconspicuous way, by

Japan. The U.S. has kept up near political, military,

and financial ties with South Korea since the R.O.K.

was established in 1948.

• Whereas South Korea has frequently been less equitable than

Americans would like, or the Korean pioneers claimed it to be

since the drop of its military tyranny within the late 1980s vote-

based system shows up to have

become progressively solidified within the R.O.K.

• Meanwhile, South Korea made amazing financial picks up within

the 1970s and 1980s and can be considered presently among the

world’s created mechanical nations.

HISTORICAL
• Many Korean architecture were destroyed and burned because of the

Japanese occupation in 1910, World War 11 as well as the Korean War

ravage the historical architecture.

• During the 109 B.C.E., Korean architecture were highly influenced by the

Chinese architecture and in the northwest region of Korea.

• Before, the prehistoric times of Korea provide interesting examples of

monumental architecture in the form of dolmen tombs.

• Their works were often seen in the fortification walls and tombs across the

peninsula. Ranging from dolmens to the massive vaulted enclosures of the

historical Korean kings.

• After the prehistoric, the history of Korea then has the three most distinct

periods within our timeframe. These are called the Three Kingdoms

period of 4th to 7th century CE. Silla (668 to 935 CE), Goguryeo (918 to

1392 CE), and Baekje dynasties ruled the peninsula.

The Three Kingdoms (4th-7th century CE)

• There are only few public structures that survived and no palaces from

ancient Korea prior to the 16th century CE.

UNIFIED SILLA KINGDOM (668-935 CE)

• United Silla absorbed China's fully developed T'ang Dynasty culture,

while at the same time developing its own unique cultural identity. The

T'ang introduced new Buddhist sects, and the Buddhist art flourished.

• This was a time of harmony and cultural development in the arts,

exhibiting a new grace and beauty standard. In the royal capital of

Kyongju, architecture flourished, but almost all signs of the past glory

have now vanished.

• The town was centered around a fertile basin formed by three

mountains and two rivers that joined together. In the urban area a gird

network was created, with the Hwangyong Temple in the center.

Baekje
• was founded in 18 B.C.E. and is prevalent in the west coast of the Korean peninsula.

• During this period, the art and architecture generally considered the finest of the three Kingdom, however a

lot of structures were destroyed because of the war of different dynasties over the centuries.

• The tomb of King Muryeong-Wang was one of the most impressive tombs built in the Baekje kingdom in

this period. It is within its huge earth mound that has a semi-circular vault lined with numerous moulded

bricks.
Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 CE)

• A strong example of the architectural style is seen at the Pusok

temple in Yeongju in the Hall of Eternal Life (Muryangsujeon)

during the 13th-century CE . This is one of the oldest remaining

wooden buildings in all of Korea.

• Some follow the style of earlier periods while others have an

octogonal or pentagonal form or a more bulbous form, perhaps

imitating the flat round discs seen in Shamanist art.

• Buildings were adorned with impressive roof tiles bearing lotus

flower and demon mask patterns found on the sites in abundance.

• Tombs are better survivors than external structures, and the

earliest Goryeo ones, using river cobbles, took the shape of stone

cairns. While, square graves were placed inside pyramids made of

cut-stone blocks by the 4th century CE.

 King Gwanggaeto the Great
• The largest example of pyramids made up of cut-stone
blocks during the 4th century CE
Joseon Dynasty ( 14th- 19th century)

• The establishment of the Joseon dynasty in 1392 brought to power like-minded

people steeped in the teachings of Neo-Confucianism, which from China during

the fourteenth century had gradually percolated into Korea. This prompted the

state to slowly transfer its patronage from the Buddhist temples to Confucian

institutions in a new climate that was increasingly hostile to Buddhism.

• Neo-Confucianism inspired new paradigms of the architecture. Jaesil, or clan

memorial halls, became common in many villages where extended families

built facilities to a distant ancestor 's traditional veneration.

• Confucian homes were constructed with special attention to the role and

importance of each household member. The houses were typically arranged

around one or more central courtyards, with the men outside separate living

quarters and the women within.

• If the temple was built on level ground, the front position was occupied by the

ceremonial hall; in the higher position it was situated on a slope to indicate its

importance.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
• Korean’s architecture was mainly employed using wood, stones, and papers.

Korean builders prefer these materials than brick since it was uncommon.

• Their structures were for the most part decorated with dancheong, a bright green,

blue, white, red, and yellow-painted designs.

• In contrast, homes of the lower-class utilized white plaster walls set into harsh

wood frames.

• Generally, Korean architecture were more direct in proportions. Gardens and

cities were placed less accentuation on the perfect symmetry in favor of

characteristic beauty.

• Structures were usually placed at the back of the mountains to block the wind

while still seeing the scenic view of the river running though it.
Traditional Korean dancheong
Low-classed homes with white plaster walls set
into harsh wood frames
• Small semi subterranean houses were built into hillsides and were

typically the ancient villages of Korea. They were either circular

or square shaped design and often had several fireplaces and

usually protected by wooden fencing.

• Korean columns are typically round, square, hexagonal or

octagonal, though the round columns were reserved solely for

significant buildings.

• The walls were made of earth packed in molds with around 40 cm

thick, as well as of mud applied to the bamboo frame.

• Korean Buddhist temples were often characterized by having two

pagodas in front of the central main hall with a symmetrical

layout
• The windows are often made of wooden slats.

• The roofs were generally high-pitched allowing easy

rainwater drainage, which during the monsoon season

might be heavy. Their roofs are constructed to be

strong enough to withstand the weight of snow in the

winter. They are also high to allow air to flow in

summer. Ancient roofs were made up of wood beams

and then tiled over a layer of soil to provide insulation.

Traditional Korean Window
High-pitched roofs
• Numerous public structures were secured inside a wall

that carried a small tile roof. The entrance was

established with a tiled-roofed gate that is often taller

than the wall which is called soseuldaemun, or if

leveled, pyeongdaemun.

• Perhaps the most important temples and palaces usually

had a triple gate or what they called sammun.

• tomb sites typically have a simplified gate or

hongsalmun that's made up of two red columns

supporting a line of vertical red beams.

Hongsalmun
Soseuldaemun
Sammun
 Cheomseongdae
Location: 7th century
Date Built: kingdom of Silla, whose capital was Seorabeol
Architect: Samguk Sagi
Purpose: it was used to observe stars in order to forecast the weather.
 Muryangsujeon
Location: 345 Buseoksa-ro, Buseok-myeon, Yeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Date Built: 7th century CE
Architect: Great Monk Uisang
Purpose: National Treasure of South Korea
 Bulguksa Temple

Location: Gyeongju, South Korea

Date built: 528 BC
Architect: Kim Daeseong
Purpose: Used to wish for peace and prosperity for all.
 Jongmyo Shrine
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Date built: 1394 but was destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasion of
Korea in the 16th century. Rebuilt in 1608
Architects: king Taejo
Purpose: A housing of the Joseon Dynasty 's former kings and queens spirit
tablets. The shrine is a symbolic structure that conveys the royal family 's
authority, where the king frequently visited to engage in ancestral rites to
wish for the health and protection of citizens and state.
 Beopjusa Temple
Location: Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea
Date built: 553 AD
Architects: Silla monk Uisin
Purpose: Used as the central temple to worship and teach the future Buddha Maitreya,
who will return to save the world.
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