Dongchundang Hall in Hoedeok, Daejeon

This is the detached hall of Song Jun-gil (1606–1672), pen name Dongchundang, who held office as Daesaheon (Inspector-General), Minister of Personnel and Minister of War under King Hyojong of Joseon. 'Dongchun' means 'ever like spring', and the wooden signboard hanging here was written by Song Si-yeol six years after Song Jun-gil's death, in 1678, the fourth year of King Sukjong. As an example of detached-hall architecture of the Joseon period, its structure is relatively simple and modest in scale. It measures three bays across the front and two bays to the side; of the six bays in total, the four bays on the right form a wooden-floored hall, and the two bays on the left are underfloor-heated rooms. Narrow wooden verandas run along the front, sides and rear of the hall, fitted with lift-up lattice doors, so that when all the doors are raised the interior and exterior spaces merge without distinction, achieving harmony with nature. The doors between the hall and the heated rooms can likewise be lifted, so that when needed the whole building can be used as one large space without separation between hall and rooms. The building's foundation stones are tall, square-cut stones, a style commonly seen in houses of the late Joseon period. Dongchundang is notable for having no separate standing chimney; instead, a smoke hole is set at the same height as the foundation stones beneath the left-hand heated room, well expressing the reclusive outlook of a Confucian scholar. That is to say, since resting comfortably in a warm heated room was considered lacking in virtue, the builders sought to preserve Confucian virtue by keeping the chimney out of sight. During roof repairs carried out in 2012–2013, records were found on the underside of the ridge purlin noting the raising of the ridge beam in 1617 and a relocation in 1649, and on the upper side of the purlin support, records of a repair and re-raising of the ridge beam in 1709, along with other details.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

10:00-17:00

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Parking

Available

Information

+82-42-608-6572

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Daedeok-gu, Daejeon

Designation

Treasure · 보물