Ojukheon

Ojukheon () in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea is where Shin Saimdang, a prominent artist, and her son Yi I, one of the most important Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty, were born. It was designated as treasure in 1963 because it is one of the oldest buildings in Korea.

It was named Ojukheon because black bamboo (ojuk) surrounds the house (heon). It appears as the background of the South Korean 5000 won note.

History

Ojukheon was built in the late 15th century. It represents houses of scholar-officials in middle Joseon and shows the change in architecture from jusimpo to ikgong.

Designated a national cultural property and protected under the Joseon Cultural Heritage Protection Ordinance in 1938, the building was dismantled in 1975 as part of the Ojukheon Restoration Project with the construction of Munseongsa Shrine and a memorial hall. In 1995, the old house behind Ojukheon was restored.

Buildings

The following buildings form the Ojukheon complex.

• Ojukheon: The room where Yi was born is called Mongnyongsil () because Shin dreamed of a dragon the day before his birth.

• Munseongsa () is a shrine built in 1975 to honor the portrait of Yi. Munseong is a posthumous name King Injo gave to Yi.

• Eojegak () was built to store Gyeongmongyogyeol and inkstone used by Yi.

Natural monument

• Yulgongmae () was planted in the 15th century. Shin is thought to have drawn paintings of this plum tree.

Museums

• Yulgok Memorial Hall: Established in 1965, it displays works by Shin, Yi, Yi U, Yi Maechang and Hwang Giro.
• Gangneung City Museum: Established in 1992, it exhibits relics that show the history and culture of Gangneung.
• Gangneung Money Museum: Established in 2023, real money from the Goryeo Dynasty to the establishment of the Bank of Korea are displayed.

Gallery

References