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K-CULTURAL HERITAGE

Everlasting Legacies of Korea

  • 1996.2.27
    designated date
    ☆Somokjang refers to a carpenter who has the skills and skills to produce wood Furniture such as a building door, a window, a wardrobe, a gauge, a desk, and a door-gap, which are symmetrical to Daemokjang.

    According to records, carpenters have been around since the Silla Dynasty, and the name "somokjang" has been called since the Goryeo Dynasty. Until the early Joseon Dynasty, Wooden Furniture was mainly made for the royal family and the upper class, but during the late Joseon Dynasty, it was widely distributed to the private sector, showing local characteristics based on self-sufficiency.

    Jo Chan-young, the owner of somokjang, set foot in the Furniture factory of Angeonsa Temple and took charge of about 30 large and small construction projects over a decade. There are clear traces of efforts to inherit traditional techniques by using traditional tools and selecting appropriate materials.
  • 2014.3.10
    designated date
    ☆Gakjajang refers to a craftsman who engraves letters on wood, metal, stone, etc. It mainly produces woodblocks for printing and Wooden Furniture works such as Wooden boards, door-gaps, and bookcases of traditional buildings.

    Park Hak-gyu, the head of Yesan gakjajang, began learning traditional wood carving under Im Byeong-seon in 1971, and devoted himsel for more than 40 years using traditional materials and techniques.
  • 2006.3.20
    designated date
    ☆A carpenter who builds palaces, temples, and houses is called Daemokjang, and a carpenter who makes Furniture, windows, etc. is called Somokjang.

    Somokjang needs the ability to create unique Korean beauty by maximizing the beauty of trees. In other words, understanding of the wood itself is necessary as well as knowledge of the woodwork, and above all, it must have an artistic sense. In addition, the completed Furniture should be artistically as well as practical, and most of all, it should be durable enough to withstand climate change.

    The process of making Wooden Furniture is diverse, complex and elaborate. There are many different methods of weaving; somokjangs squeeze a sturdy frame without a nail or a paste. In addition, metal, Najeon(mother-of-pearl), and Hwagak(ox horn) are combined and lacquer is used as a paint to add durability and beauty.

    Various patterns, such as the ten traditional Symbols of Longevity or the Four Gracious Plants give artistic value. Woodwind method digs up wood according to the pattern and inserts wood and materials of different colors to express the pattern in various colors. These various techniques are being used to make our traditional Furniture.

    Kwon Woo-beom, the holder of the function, learned traditional craft skills from his father, learned modern techniques under Oh Yang-hwan, and visited Kim Oh-gyeom to learn the production of three-dimensional works such as Buddha statues, horses, tigers, dragons, and eagles.
    In 1970, at the age of 20, he and his teacher participated in the first Excellent Crafts Competition hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy. The teacher won the prize and Kwon was selected as a special candidate.

    He review the old and learn the new. Traditional Furniture made to fit the sedentary life of Wooden houses now claims that it should be made to fit the standing structure of cement-structured apartments, and is also putting it into practice. At the same time, it is said that the true tradition is to inherit and develop the merits of traditional crafts, such as the simple texture of traditional crafts, and the beauty of division, and to combine new senses to create a new concept of luxury that precedes the times.
  • 2006.3.20
    designated date
    ☆During the process of making Furniture, a state made of wood, which is a step before painting or carving, is called "baekgol." For example, soban(small portable dining table) in this state is called Baekgol Soban, and the house without dancheong is called Baekgol jip(house).

    Paint this baekgol and decorate it with a najeon(mother-of-pearl) or sculpture to complete the Furniture. It is the same as the bare face before the decoration, and although there are many fields such as najeon, blacksmith, and hwagakjang, the white-gallows are rare.

    Baekgol Furniture is shaped after selecting, trimming, and weaving good wood. To soften the surface of the Furniture, polish it with wax and rub it with fishskin. And perillaize the entire surface.

    Kim Eui-yong, the holder of the function, came to Seoul at 15 and learned how to make Furniture from Min Jong-tae, a former holder of intangible cultural assets in Seoul, and later worked at Sohn Dae-hyun's workshop. He has been making baekgol Furniture for about 50 years and has tried to make it more practical by adding modern techniques to the way drawers are put in and out, and opening and closing doors.

    Kim Eui-yong worked on the Najeon mural in Incheon International Airport's VIP room in 2000, and won the grand prize at the Gyeonggi Provincial Craft Competition in 2001.
  • 2004.5.21
    designated date
    Each cabinet was a craftsman who engraved letters, and each piece was mainly composed of woodblocks, wood type, pyeonaek, and other Wooden boards for printing, and was also used for Wooden Furniture such as hangers and bookshelves.

    However, as these traditional individual cultures have been rapidly disappearing due to the development of photography and printing materials in recent years, they were designated as intangible cultural assets for the preservation and succession of traditional technologies.

    Lee Chang-seok, a craftsman who has been working on his own since 1978, has not only restored the entire woodblocks of "Wolinsukbo," "Hunminjeongeum," "Hunminjeongum," and "Jipwangseongseo," but also produced many woodblocks.

    In addition, through thorough analysis and historical research, many Wooden types such as "Donggukjeongun" were restored, and each of the traditional functions was recognized as a holder to preserve and transfer his excellent production functions.
  • 1999.5.26
    designated date
    The term "Somokjang" means a carpenter who has the skills and functions of making Wooden Furniture such as a building door, window, a wardrobe, a chest, a guard post, a desk, and a door-gap.

    Wood Furniture was produced in a specific area and was not supplied nationwide, but was produced according to the characteristics of each region, as it was a daily product that had been in constant demand. Since Korea has an ondol room structure, the ceiling is low and the interior is relatively narrow. Therefore, it has different characteristics from Chinese Furniture, which has a large standard and emphasized decorative aspects, in that small and simple practical Furniture has been formalized to reduce the visual burden and secure a large living space. Dried ink, zelkova, stone pear, paulownia, and sesame porridge are used naturally for four to five years. Traditional tools are used to produce traditional Furniture with features such as bookkeeping, ladder and hidden lotus flowers.

    The small ranch is a traditional craftsmanship, and Bang Dae-geun has been recognized as a functional holder, continuing its existence.
  • 2006.5.26
    designated date
    A small pasture refers to a carpenter who has the skills and functions of making Wooden Furniture, such as a building door, window, or a wardrobe, a chest, a grotto, a desk, or a doorgap, which is symmetrical to a large construction site.

    Currently, holder Kim Kwang-hwan holds the function. It was recognized as an intangible cultural asset holder because it had the ability to restore or reproduce various kinds of Furniture and decorations in the temple, which had become the center of ancient culture.
  • 2001.10.23
    designated date
    Somokjang refers to a carpenter who has the skills and functions of making Wooden Furniture such as a building door, a window, a wardrobe, a gauge, a desk, and a door-gap, which are symmetrical to a major construction site.

    The name "small ranch" appeared from the Goryeo Dynasty, and it was called "ranch" during the Joseon Dynasty, but it seems to have been distinguished from the main sections. Until the early Joseon Dynasty, Wooden Furniture was mainly made for the royal family and the upper class, but during the late Joseon Dynasty, it was widely distributed to the private sector and was highly diversified, resulting in significant regional characteristics.

    For example, in the southern part of the country, Wooden ornaments were used as a precious feature of the tree and were not coated with lacquer. Tongyeong is a typical example. The wardrobe in Hwasun, South Jeolla Province, combines both patterns, lacquer and decorations, and features a black tree. As such, the purpose of the Wooden Furniture is to maximize the wood texture of wood and pursue natural beauty. Therefore, small Wooden Furniture was made based on the form, standard, technique, and pattern of traditional Furniture.

    Function holders Kim Chang-sik and Shim Yong-sik are continuing the trend.

    ※For more information on the above cultural assets, please contact the Seoul Metropolitan Government Department of Historical and Cultural Heritage (☎02-2133-2616).
  • 2014.10.24
    designated date
    Cheon Cheol-seok meets Kim Chun-tae, Somokjang who was born in Gui-myeon, Wanju-gun in 1959 and held Seorabeol Crafts at the age of 13, and begins his journey to the small ranch.

    He wandered around because he had no money to buy tools, and began to learn from the basics at the workshop of the late Cho Seok-jin, who was an intangible cultural asset ranch in Palbok-dong, Jeonju, and North Jeolla Province.

    Even when traditional craftsmen were losing their jobs due to the advent of the industrialization era, Chun Cheol-seok insisted on the work of a small ranch, and won several awards including silver at the 1980 Jeonbuk Skills Competition, silver at the 81st National Skills Competition, gold at the 1983 Jeonbuk Skills Competition, two times at the 1997 and 1998 Korean Traditional Crafts Competition, and second-class Furniture and Changho Production Technicians in 1998.

    Cheon Cheol-seok, who completed the function of Jeonjujang, is making a field using zelkova and oak tree. On October 24, 2014, it was designated as Jeollabuk-do Intangible Cultural Property No. 19-4 Wood Furniture Small Ranch.
  • 2001.11.5
    designated date
    A ranch refers to a craftsman who builds a house. It was also called a carpenter or ranch, and among them, a master craftsman who was responsible for the overall work was referred to as a potter or a potter. In Korea, Wooden houses were developed with wood that were easily found in large forests, and palaces and temples were also built with trees. Therefore, the carpenter's job to handle trees was very useful.

    In "Gyeongguk Daejeon," it was recorded as a ranch without distinction between a ranch and a small ranch, but during the Goryeo Dynasty, there were two separate areas for building houses and weaving Furniture. As the carpenter's work was complicated, he organized a systematized organization according to his duties. Under Dogyeonsu, which was in charge of the overall control of the entire building, there were several auxiliary pieces and pyeons and pyeons. The pyeons and Wooden pyeons helped to cut and hang rafters in each process, including columns and beams, and roof structure. In addition to building the house, the Wooden-floored ranch for weaving door frames, the stone yard for laying on ondol, the ni-jang for finishing the wall, and the Jehu and Bunwa-jang for making tiles and connecting the roof are long as each of their responsibilities.

    It was the purification of the technology culture that was completed through close collaboration. In particular, the traditional burial ground's ability to complete a house with a simple number and columns without any detailed drawings is amazing.

    The ranch includes the late Bae Hee-han, the late Lee Kwang-kyu, the late Ko Taek-young and Shin Eung-soo, Jeon Heung-soo and Choi Ki-young, who were designated as national intangible cultural assets, and several craftsmen are also working in the provinces through their respective transmission systems. Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government is a master of the ranch, and Jang Hyo-soon (born 1939) was designated as No. 36 in 2001.
  • 1980.11.17
    designated date
    Metal decorations, such as locks that reinforce, open and close the joint of Wooden Furniture, are called jangseok, and craftsmen who make brass (bronze) jangseok, which contains copper and tin, are called duseokjang.

    brass and white bronze are used as materials for feldspars, and white bronze is used to decorate them with more luxurious feldspars. Heat the tin or white bronze in and melt it. Tap it with a hammer to stretch it with 0.5mm thick sheet iron and trim the sides straight.

    Along with the pattern, cut with chisel and chisel, trim it with a string, engrave the pattern with a bow tie and chisel, and rub it with a cloth coated with fraudulent powder to finish it with polish.

    The types of feldspar include farm stones, ark stones, hanging stones, crimson-closing stones, capstone, and traditional feldspar stones, while the patterns include Palbong, Samo, Aja, Aja, Butterfly, Bats, Bungeo, and so on.

    The locks include a cuff, a non-angle, a tortoise-shaped cuff, a tarot and a square-shaped cuff. Because the feldspar alone does not make a single finished product, it was specially made according to the order of the small ranch.
  • 2002.11.25
    designated date
    The carpenter, who is a craftsman dealing with wood, is divided into a ranch that builds palaces, temples, or houses, as well as a small ranch that makes Furniture, such as a wardrobe, door-gaps, tables, and soban, and other Wooden crafts. Building wood refers to the manufacture of small facilities attached to buildings, such as windows, handrails, and closures.

    Currently designated as an intangible cultural asset in Gyeonggi Province, Kim Soon-ki is a small ranch specializing in traditional windows and doors. He uses red pine or yuksong when he can't find the spruce fruit, Chumok or Choonhyangmok. The windows he produced include the Wanja Changshi, the Three-Year-Old Gate, the Rainbow Gate, and the Flower Salmun.

    To make a flower pattern complete with the best floral print among the windows, several pieces must be cut and combined. Instead of simply cutting and attaching them according to the shape, they make and combine the doorknob in a way that crosses the bite.

    He participated in the restoration of Confucian schools, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Suwonhyanggyo Local Confucian School, and Hongcheonhyanggyo Local Confucian School, as well as temples and shrines, and produced windows and doors of Seojangdae and Hwahongmun in the Hwaseong Restoration Project.
  • 1996.12.24
    designated date
    A small ranch refers to a carpenter who has the skills and skills to produce wood Furniture such as a building door, a window, a wardrobe, a gauge, a desk, and a door-gap, which are symmetrical to a major construction site. Flower (는) refers to quince trees and is widely used as a high-end Furniture material.

    The name "small pasture" appeared from the Goryeo Dynasty, and it was called "ranch" during the Joseon Dynasty, but it seems to have been distinguished from the pasture. Until the early Joseon Dynasty, Wooden Furniture was mainly made for the royal and upper classes, but during the late Joseon Dynasty, it was widely distributed to the private sector and the number of types increased, resulting in significant regional characteristics.

    Cho Ki-jong, who is now recognized as an intangible cultural asset, insists on only quince trees as wood, and the production technique uses the multiplication method of yonggui-jjim in Tonggagu. The entire process, from the use of wood to the finishing process, is faithful to traditional techniques. For example, the use of a log, the technique of knuckle weaving, the use of no glue or nails, the development of various types of jewelry and tools suitable for the Furniture itself, and the use of traditional Wooden tools at the final stage are unique features that can only be seen in Cho Ki-jong.
  • 1975.1.29
    designated date
    ☆Somokjang refers to the skill of making Wooden doors/windows, Wooden vessels or Wooden Furniture like wardrobes, chests, dressing tables or desks, or to an artisan with such a skill.

    The name Somokjang was first used during the Goryeo Period (877 – 1394). Until the early Joseon Period (1392 – 1910), Wooden Furniture was chiefly made for the people of the royal court and the noble class, but toward the late Joseon Period, it came to be used widely even by commoners.

    Wood Furniture-making artisans use traditional woodworking techniques, striving to preserve the natural beauty of the wood with its patterns.