Ssangam House, Gumi

Built in 1755, the 31st year of King Yeongjo's reign, this Joseon-period house is said to have been the home of Choe Gwang-ik, a jinsa (a scholar who had passed the lower level of the state civil service examination). It consists of an anchae (main women's quarters), an inner gate quarters, a sarangchae (men's quarters) and an outer gate quarters. The anchae is "ㄷ"-shaped and faces east, while the straight ("一"-shaped) inner gate quarters face it, together forming an overall open, "ㅁ"-shaped layout. At the centre of the anchae is a six-bay daecheong (wooden-floored hall), a scale very rarely seen in houses of this region. To its right is a chanbang (pantry), below which lie a large anbang (main room) and kitchen in succession; the anbang was set against the open side of the inner courtyard so that it would receive natural light directly. The chanbang beside the daecheong can be entered only from the anbang. The geonneonbang (side room) opposite the anbang, called the "utbang" in this house, is relatively large; beside it are a wooden-floored area, another room and a kitchen, the last placed symmetrically opposite the kitchen next to the anbang. Long, narrow porches (jjokmaru) were installed in front of the doors of both the anbang and the geonneonbang. A distinctive feature is the long shelf fixed to the upper wall on the left side of the daecheong, together with a five-tiered, table-like shelf attached to the front pillar — a very rare arrangement that served as a fixed surface for washing utensils and small everyday items. The sarangchae stands apart, on ground one level lower than the outer courtyard beyond the inner gate quarters; it is unusual for the sarangbang to be separated from the inner courtyard area in this way. It comprises a daecheong, a large sarangbang, a small side room and an ondol (heated-floor) room; the rear two bays of its daecheong are raised one level higher, establishing a hierarchy of space, a technique commonly found in yangban houses of the North Gyeongsang region. It is a building of a form rarely seen elsewhere in the provinces, and shows a high degree of refinement. At the time of its designation the house was named "Haepyeong Choe Sang-hak-ssi Gagok" (Choe Sang-hak's House, Haepyeong), but on 29 January 2007 its designated name was changed to "Ssangam House, Gumi," reflecting its popular names "Ssangamgoga" and "Ssangam House," given because of two large rocks near the house. Note: This heritage site is generally open to visitors, but access may sometimes be restricted owing to the personal circumstances of the owner or others.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gumi, Gyeongbuk

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산