Goeheon House, Yeongju

Goeheon House, Yeongju was built in 1779 by the eighth-generation descendant of the family's founding ancestor, at the centre of an auspicious site known in geomantic terms as a "basket-shaped" (or winnowing-basket-shaped) location, believed to shield the house from draughts and to gather fallen leaves, and thus to bring prosperity; its original appearance survives relatively intact. The shrine, the men's quarters (sarangchae) and the women's quarters (anchae) are each laid out as distinct zones according to the hierarchy of Confucian thought, and their structural styles likewise vary slightly in formality to match this hierarchy; the house is a fine example of the developed use of wooden side-porches, storage spaces, ventilation windows and clerestory windows. In particular, an old seongju jar of unknown date — a jar enshrining the household guardian spirit — has been fully preserved and passed down intact, and the hidden refuge cleverly concealed in the attic above the large sarang room and the main room is an uncommon example that lets us read the conditions of the Japanese colonial period and other such eras. It was originally designated Gyeongsangbuk-do Folklore Material, Goeheon House (30 December 1985), then, upon application (20 August 2008), was designated a National Folklore Cultural Heritage (30 October 2009). This heritage site is generally open to the public, but viewing may be restricted due to the personal circumstances of the owner.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산