Songcheom Head House of Yangdong Village, Gyeongju

About this place

The Songcheom Head House of Yangdong Village in Gyeongju is the head house of the great head family of the Gyeongju Son clan, a house built in the 15th year of King Seongjong of Joseon (1484) by Son So (1433–1484), posthumously honored as Yangmin-gong, who became the clan's founding ancestor in this village. It is also the birthplace of Yangmin-gong's son, Master Son Jung-don, and of his maternal grandson, Master Yi Eon-jeok (1491–1553). Within the straight (一-shaped) gate quarters stands the square (口-shaped) inner quarters, and on high ground behind the men's quarters (sarangchae) are the spirit gate (sinmun) and the shrine. The inner quarters has a hip-and-gable roof whose sides form the shape of the character for "eight" (八), while the men's quarters has a gable roof whose sides form the shape of the character for "person" (人). In the garden behind the men's quarters—where the men's room and a bedroom are laid out in an L shape across a wooden-floored hall—stands a juniper tree centuries old. Usually a smaller men's room is placed across the hall from the large men's room, but this house draws attention for placing the small men's room to one corner so that the rooms do not face each other. It is also unusual for being arranged as a kind of wooden-floored passageway. Befitting a head family, it has both scale and formality, and the scenery of the garden behind the men's quarters is likewise outstanding; the construction techniques and arrangement of the buildings are so distinctive that it serves as important material for the study of old dwellings of early Joseon. The above national heritage is generally open to visitors, but please note that viewing may be restricted due to the personal circumstances of the owner or others.