Unhyeongung, The Hall of the Korean royal family culture. We would like to give a warm welcome to all visitors of Unhyeongung. We invite you to check out Unhyeongung and the history behind the palace, architecture, and tourist information.
Let us guide you through the buildings of Unhyeongung: Sujiksa, Noandang, Norakdang, and Irodang
Sujiksa(守直舍)
Sujiksa, a Haenggak (an annexe for servants and workers), is located on the right side of the main gate of Unhyeongung and was a residence for the personnel in charge of security and management of Unhyeongung. Ever since Gojong took the throne, Unhyeongung, where Heungseon Daewongun resided, grew in its scale. As Heungseon Daewongun possessed greater power, the need for protection arose. It was at this time, the guards were starting to be dispatched from the royal palace, and the number of caretakers increased. Now, the scenes during the Joseon Dynasty is reenacted inside the rooms of Sujiksa with braziers, furniture, oil lamps, and other household artifacts.
Noandang(老安堂)
To the east of the main building are 12 cells, with 6 in the front and 3 cells on each side. Towards the front of the main building is Younghwaru, a Numaru (an attic) with 1 cell of Yangkan (樑間 / a distance measured by a crossbeam) and 4 cells of Dorikan (道里間 / a unit to measure distance). Towards the rear of the main building is an Ondolbang (a room with the Korean floor heating system), with 3 cells of Yangkan (樑間 / a distance measured by a crossbeam) and 3 cells of Dorikan (道里間 / a unit to measure distance), which extends to a Toenmaru (a narrow wooden porch running along the outside of rooms). These are all different parts of Noandang, that contribute to the T-shaped plane of the building. Facing the west side, the main building has 4 cells throughout the main hall, and 2 cells of Ondolbang (a room with a heated floor). The very west side of the main building has an empty cell called 'Toekan.' Both the front and the rear parts of the building also have Toekan cells. As for the lithic foundation of the building's structure, three layers of Jangdaeseok (a long foot stone) are laid under the main hall, which contributes to the central structure, the front, and the rear of the master bedroom. Two layers of Jangdaeseok are laid under Younghwaru which is a type of Numaru (a foundation stone with 4 equal sides, whose upper layer is trimmed to be slightly smaller than the lower layer, is square in its shape). For the foundation under the Numaru, a pillar-like stone basis holds it up.
Multiple types of columns are associated with the main building. These types of columns include a flat pillar (Pyeongju) and a high pillar (Goju), all featuring flat sides, a tapered width, and an edge with a curb and rounded corners. As for the top of a pillar, a crossbeam and a wooden support tightly bound by arrow-head joints, and another support beam laid on these joints form a Soro (a support wood) decorated house with a partial row of flat pillars joined by another Soro. The main hall and Toekan (an empty cell) are decked with a checkered floor called 'Umulmaru'. In the direction of Dori (a rafter support), hangs a main prop called 'Jangguiteul' between pillars, and in the direction of Bo (a crossbeam), hangs a joist called 'Tongwiteul' between the sets of Jagguiteul, forming a checkered shape. Two methods were used to install Makjang (flooring board): the Makdeopjang method, incorporates grooves of the tongwiteul that are fit together and nailed down, while the Eunhyeoldeopjang method, utilizes Makjang that are fitted from the bottom and nailed against Soldae (support plank) and installed on the bottom of Teokpanjari (a board holding Soldae). Jangdaeseok Gomaki (a type of stepstone) is installed in between the lower bases of the servant rooms and a steel ventilation is installed in between the foundation stones and steppingstones.
For construction of the body of the house, a reoccurring theme can be seen with the front and rear consisting of Toekan (empty cells), and a girder is laid across the space between the front and back-end of Nejingoju (an internal high column). Inside Toekan, a Toeryang (a short crossbeam) was placed on the gap between Oeijinpyeongju (an external flat column) and Nejingoju. On the upper part of Goju (a high column), a Jungdori (a collar beam) is placed. Above the Jongbu (a clay wall), a Pandaegong (a short pillar supporting a beam) is raised to hold Jongdori (a collar beam). The entire structure is called Igojuoryang (二高柱五樑 / two high columns and five crossbeam), with the lower parts of the Jongdori (a ridge pole) prop, crossing Ddeunchangbang (a part for connection of pillars). Soro (a support wood) is inserted between Ddeunchangbang and Jangyeo (a pillar support). Along the rear of the northeast side, a protruding section hangs Toekan (an empty cell) in the east. Between the west side Pyeongju (a flat pillar) and Nejingoju (an internal high pillar) hangs Daeryang (a large girder), forming Ilgojuoryang (one high pillar and five crossbeams). The numaru part that protrudes to the south side consists of three ryangs (a unit that measures the number of room or building cells).
The eaves are all made out of Hoht Cheoma (the simple eaves without edge extensions) by solely using rafters. However, eaves on the facade, the east and the west sides, and some buildings in the south, all feature Chayang (an awning for the existing eaves). Hip rafters that are fan-shaped with curves, and curved tips of the eaves are refined with parallel rafters. The pent roofs were created by laying boards covered with galvanized metal onto rectangular lumber frames that were inserted onto the iron hooks of wooden support rafters, put at intervals of a distance equivalent to 5 ~ 6 rafters.
The roof is in a Palgak roof (a roof with eight angles) shape with gable ends along all sides of the main building, and the four corners of south side of the Younghwaru (an attic). Hoechumgol (an L-shaped drainage pipe inserted in the roof) is connected to the central line of Sukiwa (a convex-shaped roof tiles), creating a total of 2 rods of pipes working as a drainage system. The gable walls are made out of baked clay. On its west side, the central part with an octagonal frame is decorated with patterns, with the remainder of three gable walls bearing a bat style pattern. Bats symbolize prosperity and happiness due to the Chinese character “bok” meaning “bat” sounding similar to “bok” meaning prosperity. Bats are called “Cheonseo (天鼠)”, which means, a bird of the heaven, or “Seonseo”, meaning a bird of the gods. For this reason, the shape of a bat is commonly used for everyday products, painting, crafts, furniture, and architecture.
Norakdang(老樂堂)
The main body of Norakdang, with ten cells on the front and three cells on its sides, is connected to Namhaenggak (a row of residences for servants) by an extension of 2 cells from the first east cell and the second west cell each to the south. Three cells of the rear-end of the east protrude 2 cells north-side, forming a building with a flat shape of a continuous straight line. For room arrangements, with three cells of main hall as the center, an Ondolbang (a room with heated floor) occupying two Doritong (unit for length measurement) cells, and a kitchen occupying one cell are almost symmetrical in each of their arrangements. Ondolbang and the main hall feature a Toekan (an empty cell) before them and a hardwood floor. Traditional windows and doors are fitted in the three cells of the main hall, one cell of Ondolbang on the west side, and two cells of Ondolbang on the east side, featuring a traditional Korean main room called 'Marubang.' This sort of front and rear constitution along a floor plan, where two Ondolbang rooms are arranged on each side of the east and the west of three cells of a central main hall, are in line with the interior structure plan of palatial residences. The entire backside of the building is covered with Toemaru (small wooden floor) except for the east protruding side. Three cells of the west side and the main hall include exposed hallways, while the remaining spots of the east are fitted with Traditional windows and doors, and handrails are installed on the passageways. At the end of the east side, lies a Toekan with half the size of a regular cell. This Toekan is used as a passage leading to Noandang, passing through Norakdang and Namhaenggak. It also leads to Bukhaenggak of Narakdang in the North.
The three cells of the northern side comes with 'Toe' (退 / an exit) that makes exiting and entering easier. These cells also are equipped with handrails that have the matching format to the rail system installed on the rear side. Inside the cell protruding towards the south side of the east kitchen, is one of multiple Bokdogak (residences on an overlapped ground) connecting to both residences in the east side, whose land is currently occupied by Duksung Woman's university. One remaining cell, that was originally protruding to the east side in 1864, was damaged during maintenance, resulting in the building being excluded from any future reworks.
As for the frontal Doritong of Jukan (柱間 / inter-column), the first cell on the west is the largest at 3,080mm (10 cheok) while the last space in the east is the narrowest at 1,530mm (5 cheok), when comparing them to the other cells in Norakdang. The space between eight cells is 2,460mm-2.476mm (8 cheok) in size. As for the west side Yangtong (crossbeam connection), two cells on the south side are 2,470mm (8 cheok) and 2,465mm (8 cheok), respectively. The main structures are 2,780mm (9 cheok), 2,468mm (8 cheok), 2,782mm (9 cheok), which means the central cell is one cheok (approximately 30.3 cm) smaller. In the main hall, the front and the rear cells are 1,535mm and 1,547mm, each. The area of Eokan (御間 / a central cell) is 4,948mm (16 cheok). Two cells that extend to the north of the rear east side measure at 2,477mm and 1,548mm.
A platform for the front and the rear side of the main body consists of three parts, with two of the parts exposed in the upper section. Every column is a flat square in shape and has minheulim (a tapered shape) and bitmojeopgi (rounded corners) with a curb. A foundation stone is quadrate, and the upper layer is trimmed to be slightly smaller than the lower layer. The main hall and Toekan are decked with a checkered floor, called 'Umulmaru', while the Toenmaru (a narrow porch running along the outside of rooms) is floored with Jangmaru (a floor laid with long planks). As for the Umulmaru, in the direction of Dori (a rafter support), hangs a main prop called 'Jangguiteul' between pillars, and in the direction of Bo (a crossbeam), hangs a joist called 'Tongwiteul' between the sets of Jagguiteul, forming a checkered shape.The Makjang (flooring board) installation process uses the Makdeopjang method where grooves of the tongwiteul (joist) are fit together and nailed down. The wall structure consists of lime-plastered wall and Jibyeokjangja (wood-framed paper walls). Jibyeokjangja is installed by affixing it onto lime-plastered walls inside the Ondolbang or onto Meorum (wainscot). The gap between cornerstones, beneath the rooms for servants, is filled by installing Gomaki (a stone used for preventing loss of heat) using Jeondol (decorative brinks) or Jangdaeseok (a long foot stone). Inside the cell that has a steppingstone of the frontal Pyeongjuyeol (a row of flat pillars), the lower parts of Gwiteul (a floor frame) are blocked with a stepstone, and between it and a cornerstone comes a steel vent. In the west side, a fireproof wall is installed below Jungbang.
As for the top of a pillar, Ikgong (a short-carved wood), and Changbang (a horizontal support wood), are tightly bound by arrow-head joints. Upon these joints, Judu (a pillar head), and Toeryang (a short crossbeam placed on pillars), are placed. The placements of these support beams are called 'Gongpo' (supports for the weight of the eaves), in the Choikgong format. Gongpo is composed of the same formats as Pyeongju, Goju, and the Ikgong, a member of Gongpo, with the shape of Mulikgong (Ikgong whose edge is carved into a round shape).
The main body of the building's structure has 'Ikojuchillyang' organization (two columns and seven crossbeams) where, for a Toekan (an empty cell), a Woejingoju (an external flat pillar) is placed in between Naejingoju (an internal high pillar), and Toeryang (a short crossbeam placed on pillars). A girder is also laid across the front and the rear sides of Naejingoju. On it, comes Judaegong (a short pillar held up by the floor board), with Jongbo (a rafter support that is placed on pillars), installed on top of it, with all of these structural compositions holding a Jongdori (a collar beam). The lower parts of the Jongdori (a collar beam) prop crosses Ddeunchangbang (a part for connection of pillars). Soro (a support wood) is inserted between Ddeunchangbang and a Jangyeo prop (a pillar support). On the protruding parts of the facade, the north side consists of Samryangga (a roof with three rafter supports), while the east kitchen side consists of Pyeongsaryang (a decorative frame for roofs). Also, on the rear side of the east, a section with northward protrusion consists of Ilojuoryang organization (one high pillar and five crossbeams). The ceiling of Norakdang is decorated with Umulbanja (a checkered ceiling), Jibyeokja (paper plaster on wooden frame), and lotus flowers. From the main hall, Umulmaru (a checkered ceiling) is assembled by installing Banjateul (a frame for ceiling decoration), between a girder and Hajungdori (a weighted rafter support). Jibanja, a paper-plastered Pyeongsaryang framed with trimmed flat wood, is used for Ondolbang and partial sections of the floor, leaving a lotus-decorated ceiling exclusively used for the main hall.
Double eaves composed of edge-extensions called 'Buyeon', and rafters, form the eaves used here. The full front along with some parts of the back have pent roofs (Chayang). The rafters on the rear side are all decorated with Seonja (an angle rafter), that is made up of Gajibuyeon. The L-shaped valley of the eaves are comprised of parallel rafters.
The extended section of the front side, of both the east and west, is made of gabled eaves, while both sides of the main body have gabled roofs. Southward-protruding buildings on the east and west sides have Matbae (gabled) roofs. The Northeastward-protruding sections of the building are decorated with Paljak roofs (half of the roof is gabled, and another half is square). Hoechumgol (an L-shaped drainage pipe inserted in the roof) is connected to the central line of Sukiwa (a convex-shaped roof tiles), creating a total of 2 rods of pipes working as a drainage system. The edge of the Sukiwa features a Waguto finish (pasting a mix of lime, granite, soil on the edge of Sukiwa tiles). Nearby the edge of Chunyomaru (tile-covered angle rafters), a Neosae (a concave tile) of the Hapgakbu (gable part) center, and the end of the edge sections, a Neosae (a concave tile) center of the Bakgongbu (gable section), part of the edge, and a roof valley section where a support wood piece is installed, all use Maksae (an edge Sukiwa tile), and Naerimsae (an edge Amkiwa tile). The Hapgak (gable) walls are all made of Jeonbeokdolchijang (piled bricks). The Hapgak wall of the west side of the main frame is decorated with patterns and an octagonal frame in the center. This Hapgak wall is installed in the Ondolbang on the west side, along with another one installed on the east side. The lower part of the east is built with granite, and bricks are piled on top. Simplified blocks made of wooden materials such as Dori (a rafter support), and Gongpo (supports for the weight of the eaves), are placed in the upper section. On top of that, the tile roof is placed with two Veonga (a chimney attachment) affixed on it. The chimney of the west Ondolbang is built in the same style as that of the east with one difference being: it was built using red bricks instead of Jeonbyeokdol (traditional baked clay bricks) and has one more Yeonga (a chimney attachment) attached.
Nan-gan (a type of handrails), as Pyeongnan (a flat handrails), is a kind of Ajah nangan (亞 shaped handrail). The timber polishing techniques used for the Oemji poles (newel), Nangan Saldae (handrails prop), Hayeop (a lotus flower decoration piece), and Dolrandae (a thin wood pole on handrails) are highly sophisticated and exceptional. Saldae (handrails prop) is trimmed with Deungmiri (a carpenter's tool for carving), and Hayeop is engraved into a lotus blossom piece. Dolrandae (a thin wood pole on handrails), has a semi-circular, cylindrical shaped with a lightly contorted curve. This semi-circular, cylindrical shape, shows the wonderful carpentry, forming an easier and fuller grip than the plain cylinder shape.
As for the structural organization, Eomji Column (newel) and Nangan Dongja (balustrade) stand on Nagan Jibang (a lower wood pole under the handrails). Jungbang (a molding in the middle of a wall) is linked between Eomji columns on Nangan Dongja. Hayeop, located on Nangan Dongja, upon Jungbang, holding Dorandae, hung between Eomji columns. The Eomji column is a 60mm square with the top decorated with a blossom shaped Beopsu (engravings on the head of Eomji column). The size of Nagan Dongja is 42mm × 40mm. The diameter of the narrow side of Dolrandae (a thin wood pole on handrails) is 37mm and the wider side, 41mm. Jungbang (a molding in the middle of a wall), has the dimensions of 60mm×47mm, and Saldae (handrails prop), 14mm×33mm. Saldae has two grooves (Chok) that fit the Nangan Jibang (a lower wood pole under the handrails), Eomji columns (newel), and Nangan Dongja (balustrade), and has another groove (Chok) that fits the Saldae (handrails prop). The frame encasing a groove (Chok) is about 8mm×9mm, with the length of one groove (Chok) being 6m, and the length of two grooves (Chok) being about 13 - 14mm. The four sides of the Chok (groove) are cut on a slant line for easy insertion.
Irodang(二老堂)
The original construction plan was to set up a building with a rectangular plane, occupying 7 cells on the front and 7 cells on the sides. An additional house on the west allows this building 8 facade cells. As for the room arrangements, Namcheukchae (a house in the south), has Ondolbang in the west, three cells of main halls, another Ondolbang in the east, and Toekan used as a passage toward the end of the east. The Bokdogak, (a colonnaded passageway leading to the south side), is connected to Norakdang through Bukhaenggak. The facade of the main hall and Ondolbang in the east have a Toekan, that comes with Pyeongjuyeol (a row of flat pillars), with a Sabunhap door (four doors incorporated into one structure) integrated. Dongcheukchae (a house in the east) consists of an east Ondolbang, a house in the south, and another Ondolbang connected from Toekan, Banchim (lower furnace), another Ondolbang in the north, and Toekan. Except for 2 cells in the north, every room is installed with a Toenmaru (a narrow wooden porch running along the outside of rooms), that has a Jangmaru flooring (a floor laid with long planks) outside.
On the third cell from the north, is an eastward protruding restroom, installed at the end of the north hall. As for the frontal Doritong (unit for length measurement) of Jukan (柱間 / inter-column), the first cell on the west is the largest at 3,073mm (10 cheok), and the seventh cell which is the last space in the east, is the narrowest at 1,545mm (5 cheok), out of all the cells in Norakdang. As for the Jukan (inter-column) of the West side, the first cell on its front is 2,485mm (9 cheok) wide. The remaining 6 cells are between 2,430mm and 2,465mm (8 Cheok). Ryangtong (a type of house built to prevent heat loss) of the Namcheukchae (South house) and the Dongcheukchae (East house) occupies 2 cells, and Ryangtong of Seocheukchae (West house) and Bukcheukchae (North house) occupies one cell, each. The frontal Toekan of Yangtong of Namcheukchae, occupies 1,545mm in the front, and 3,673mm in the back.
A quadrate foundation stone of the upper layer is trimmed to be slightly smaller than the lower layer. Pyeongju (a flat pillar), and Goju (a high pillar) all have flat sides, with a Minheulim (a tapered shape) and Bitmojeopgi (rounded corners). As for the top of the pillar, a Bo (a crossbeam) and Jangyeo (a horizontal support wood) are tightly bound by arrow-head joints. Upon these joints, Dori (a rafter support) is placed. Partially, it is a Soro Sujangjib, where Soro is inserted into its Pyeongjuyeol (a row of flat pillars). The main hall and Toekan are decked with a checkered floor, called 'Umulmaru', and the Toenmaru (a narrow porch running along the outside of rooms) is floored with Jangmaru (a floor laid with long planks). Toemaru, is also used as the passage to the south east side, decked with Jangmaru (a floor laid with long plank). A Umulmaru (a checkered floor) on Makjang (flooring board) is installed using the Eunhyeoldeopjang method, where Makjang is fitted from the bottom and nailed against Soldae (support plank) installed on the bottom of Teokpanjari (a board holding Soldae). The wall structure consists of lime-plastered wall and Jibyeokjangja (wood-framed paper walls). Jibyeokjangja is installed by affixing it onto lime-plastered walls inside the Ondolbang or onto Meorum (wainscot). The gap between cornerstones, beneath the rooms for servants is filled by installing Gomaki (a stone used for preventing loss of heat), using Jeonbyeokdol (decorative brinks), or Jangdaeseok (a long foot stone). Inside the cell that has a steppingstone, of the front and rear main hall of the south house, a gap between a Gwiteul (a floor frame), of the floor and a steppingstone is blocked with a wooden plank. Especially for the south side where the facade of the building stands, a steel vent is installed right beside the foundation stone. A divination sign for the leader is engraved on the surface of this vent. For the structure on the square plane, the south house occupies 1 Goju (a high pillar), and 5 Ryang (a unit that measures the number of room or building cells). The east house occupies 1 Pyeong (a unit for land measurement) and 4 Ryang. The west and north house occupy 3 Ryang. As for south house, Toeryang (a short crossbeam placed on pillars) is placed between Pyeongju (a flat pillar) and Naejingoju (an internal high pillar). A girder is placed between Naejingoju and the rear Pyeongju. Jongbo is placed between sets of Dongjaju, installed on Gojumeori (a head of a high pillar) and the girder. Ddeunchangbang (a part for connection of pillars) crosses the lower part of the Jongdori prop (a collar beam prop). Soro (a support wood) is inserted between Ddeunchangbang and Jangyeo (a pillar support). The east house hangs Toeryang (a short crossbeam placed on pillars) between the exterior Pyeongju (a flat pillar), and Naejingoju (an internal high pillar). A girder is hung between the Naejingoju, and courtyard-facing Pyeongju, while Jongbo is hung between sets of Dongjaju (a short pillar placed on a crossbeam) on the Gojumeori (head of a high pillar) and the girder. Sets of Jungdori (a rafter support) are placed on the upper sections of Goju (a high pillar) and Dongjaju (a short pillar placed on a crossbeam). A rafter is hung horizontally between these sets of Jungdori (a rafter support). The west house and the north house have the same architectural style although the Jukan (inter-column) of Bokan (inter-crossbeam) is different. The girder is laid between the front and rear Pyeongju (a flat pillar), and Pandaegong (a short pillar supporting a beam) is raised in the upper center of the girder and supports Jongdori (a collar beam).
The eaves of all four exterior sides and the four planes of courtyards are in Hoht Cheoma (the simple eaves without edge extensions) style. Apart from the connection to Southeast side Bokdogak (residences on an overlapped ground), all the exteriors and interiors feature Chayang (an awning for the existing eaves). The rafters on the rear side are all decorated with Seonja (an angle rafter), and the courtside, L-shaped valley of the eaves are comprised of parallel rafters. To create Chayang, Panjae (a plank) was placed onto a flat frame, and upon it, a galvanized metal sheet is laid. Every five or eight rafters, a support post is installed and the rafters, which are hung on laths-affixed steel.
As for the roof, southeast and southwest corners of a south house, and the northeast side corner of an east house, have Paljak roofs (half of the roof is gabled, and another half is square), where Hapgak (gable) is installed. The northwest corner building has Ujingak roofs (a type of roofs where four tile-covered angle rafters all point to one ridge) where the tip of Chunyo, Maru (the angle rafter), and Yong Maru (the ridge) are connected. Courtside Hoechumgol (an L-shaped drainage pipe inserted in the roof), is connected to the central line of Sukiwa (a convex-shaped roof tiles), totaling 2 rods of pipes working as a drainage system. The edge of the Sukiwa features a Waguto finish (pasting a mix of lime, granite, soil on the edge of Sukiwa tiles), but the nearby tip of Chunyo Maru (the angle rafters) as well as the central and edge part of the Neosae (a concave tile) of Hapgak (gable), all use Maksae (an edge Sukiwa tile) and Naerimsae (an edge Amkiwa tile). A chimney is installed in the courtside, west side, east side, and rear side, allowing for a total of 4 chimneys. Toenmaru (a narrow wooden porch running along the outside of rooms) on the four sides of the court, and on the east side, both have handrails. All handrails are Pyeongnan (a flat handrails) and Gyonan but have a difference in their height and shapes. By laying a folding floor in the passage to Naejeong (courtyard), from the exit of the west kitchen, in the back floor of Naejeong, two narrow wooden porches located in between the south and north, are connected.
