Jeong Won-tae’s House, Jecheon

Said to have been built in the early 19th century, this is a house of the yangban, or scholar-official, class, set in beautiful surroundings with a fine view, in a spot considered highly favourable by geomancy. Today it consists of an L-shaped main quarters and a reversed-L-shaped men's quarters, together forming an open, square courtyard. The main quarters is L-shaped, an eclectic style combining methods from the southern provinces and the central region. Centred on the hall, there is a small side room to the east, and to the south a two-bay principal room divided into upper and lower sections. In front of the principal room there is a narrow board floor, beside which lies a two-bay kitchen. To the west of the hall are two small rooms, upper and lower, with a veranda floor running from there to the hall. At the far end is a small kitchen, above which is a loft. Sliding doors are fitted between the principal room, the upper room and the small room. The men's quarters is a reversed-L shape derived from a straight, single-row form, built in the style of the southern provinces. From the east, at the rear there are a half-bay kitchen and a one-bay room, and beside them two reception rooms, upper and lower. In the middle is the hall, and at the far end a small room, with a storeroom set where the building turns. A veranda floor runs from the reception room to the small room, and the hall is left open without doors. A gate quarters is said to have stood to the south of the men's quarters, but it can no longer be seen. The men's quarters was originally roofed with tiles, and there was an intention to tile the main quarters as well, but it is said that thatch was used instead for lack of money. There is no formal garden within the house, but trees planted around it lend it a pleasant atmosphere; in particular, an oddly shaped ornamental rock that once stood in front of the men's quarters is said to have been brought there more than 300 years ago, though it is now damaged and stands in two pieces to either side of a memorial stone. Overall the building has no ornamentation, but it is soundly and carefully built. This heritage site is generally open to visitors, but access may be restricted at the owner's discretion.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jecheon, Chungbuk

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산