HISTORY OF KOREA

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WIDESCREEN PRESENTATION
The first known kingdom in Korea
(Gojoseon) was founded in 2333 BCE.

Modern historians generally consider

Gojoseon to have developed into a
powerful federation or kingdom by
around fourth century B.C.E. in the
basins of the Liao and Taedong Rivers,
ruling over northern Korean
Peninsula and southern Manchuria.
From a technical point of view, buildings
are structured vertically and horizontally.
A construction usually rises from a stone
sub foundation to a curved roof covered
with tiles, held by a console structure and
supported on posts; walls are made of
earth or sometimes totally composed of
movable wooden doors. Architecture is
built according to the k’a unit, the
distance between two posts (about 3.7
meters), and its designed so that there is
always a transitional space between the ‘
inside’ and the ‘outside’.
HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE
Reconstructed Neolithic-period huts in
Amsa-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul

In the Paleolithic the first inhabitants of the

Korean peninsula used caves, rockshelthers, and
portable shelters. The remains of portable
shelter s. The remains of portable shelter dating
to c. 30,000 BC were excavated at the Seokjang-
ri site in South Chungcheong Province. The
earliest examples of pit-house architecture are
from the Jeulmun Pottery Period. Early pit-
houses contained basic featured such as hearths,
storage pits and space for working and sleeping.
 Log houses were built by laying logs horizontally
one on top of one another. The interstices between the
logs were filed with clay to keep the wind out. Similar
houses are still found in mountains areas as like
Gangwondo province.
Elevated houses, which probably originated in the
southern regions, are believed to have first been built
as storage houses to store grains out of the reach of
animals and to keep them cool. This style still survives
in the two-storey pavilions and lookout stand erected
in melon patches and orchards around the countryside.
In the Mumun period buildings were pit dwellings with
walls of wattle-and-daub and thatched roofs. Raised-
floor architecture first appeared in the Korean
peninsula in the Middle Mumun, c. 850-550 BC.
RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE

Bunhwangsa Temple pagoda.
A reconstruction of the
It is thought this pagoda once
great pagoda at
stood seven or nine stories
Hwangyong Temple.
based on historical records.
Chongnim Temple
Pagoda, one of the oldest
survivng pagodas in
Korea. Baekje period,
Buyeo, South Korea.
ROYAL ARCHITECTURE

Tomb of the General,

Cheomseongdae, Royal presumed to be the tomb of a
Poseokjeong (Pavilion of great Goguryeo king or
Observatory Stone Abalone) used to be military official. Located in
a grand royal garden Ji’an, China.
ROYAL ARCHITECTURE

Details of wooden construction reconstructed

from archaeological remains recovered from a
dredging of Anapji pond. Gyeongju National Anapji pond in Gyeongju.
Museum.
GORYEO (KORYO) DYNASTY

A Goryeo painting Woljeong Temple

Muryangsujeon, a Daeungjeon Hall of
depicting a royal Pagoda
national treasure of Sudeoksa Temple
palace.
Korea
 Ancient Architecture (Neolithic–Seventh century)
The early stages of Korean architecture date to the Neolithic period. 
Archaeological evidence of ondol, the unique Korean floor panel heating system, was
found among the remains of the burnished plain pottery culture, and the
development of the vertical wall was evident in the primitive houses of this culture.
Two types of dolmens, the primitive tombs of important persons, have been
found in the Korean peninsula. The southern type is low and often a simple slab
without supporting stones; the northern type is larger and more definite in shape.
The distribution of the dolmens implies a relation to the megalithic cultures of the
Western world.
During this period, building techniques of houses evolved from pit dwelling to
houses of earthen walls with thatched roofs, to log cabin construction, and finally, to
a raised floor construction.
 Baekje was founded in 18 B.C.E.,
and its territory included the west
coast of the Korean peninusula.
Paekche established friendships with
China and Japan, and built temples.
The earliest stone pagoda of the Miruk
Temple in Iksan southern korea
country is of particular interest,
because it shows transitional features
from a wooden pagoda to a stone one.
The art and architecture of the
Paekche period had a touch of
elegance, refinement and warmth.  PAGODA OF THE MIRUK TEMPLE
Joseon architecture Joseon Dynasty Court Architecture
(Fourteenth – Nineteenth century)
The founding of the Joseon dynasty in 1392
brought to power like-minded men steeped in the
doctrines of Neo- Confucianism, which had slowly
percolated into Korea from China during the fourteenth
century. This ushered in a new environment that was
relatively hostile to Buddhism, causing the state to
gradually shift its patronage from Buddhist temples to
Confucian institutions. Neo-Confucianism inspired new
architectural paradigms. Jaesil, or clan memorial halls,
became common in many villages, where extended
families erected facilities for common veneration of a
distant ancestor. Even beyond these archetypes, the
aesthetics of Neo-Confucianism, which favored
practicality, frugality, and harmony with nature, forged
a consistent architectural style throughout Korean
society.
 Bulguksa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of
Korean Buddhism in the North Gyeongsang province in
South Korea. It is home to seven national treasures,
including the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas,
Cheongun-gyo (Blue Cloud Bridge), and two gilt-bronze
statues of Buddha. The temple is classified as Historic and
Scenic Site No. 1 by the South Korean government, and in
1995, Bulguksa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage
List together with the Seokguram Grotto. The stairway is
33 steps high, corresponding to the 33 steps to
enlightenment . There are two pagodas on the temple site,
which is unusual. The three-story Seokgatap (Sakyamuni
Pagoda), which stands at 8.2 meters, is a traditional
Korean-style stone pagoda with simple lines and minimal
detailing. Dabotap (Many Treasure Pagoda) is 10.4 meters
tall and dedicated to the Many
Treasures Buddha mentioned in the Lotus Sutra . In
contrast to Seokgatap, Dabotap is known for its highly
ornate structure.
The Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and
part of the Bulguksa temple complex. It lies
four kilometers east of the Bulguksa temple
on Mt. Tohamsan, in Gyeongju, South Korea.
The grotto overlooks the East Sea (Sea of
Japan) and rests 750 meters above sea level. It
is classified as National Treasure No. 24 by the
South Korean government, and in 1995 it was
added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
together with the Bulguksa Temple. It
exemplifies some of the best Buddhist
sculptures in the world. The grotto is symbolic
of a spiritual journey into Nirvana.
Goguryeo Tombs
Notable aspects of art from this kingdom
can be found in the Complex of Goguryeo
Tombs, designated as a World Heritage Site
by UNESCO. It is thought the complex was
used as a burial site for kings, queens and
other members of the royal family. Tomb
murals vividly depict everyday aspects of life
and culture in the ancient kingdom, and
Goguryeo painting was highly influential to
other art throughout East Asia, including the
wall murals of Horyu-ji in Japan. Goguryeo
tomb paintings are noted for their vigor,
imagery, detail, and originality.