Andong Yuiljae Head House

About this place

The Andong Yuiljae Head House is the head house of the Yuiljae branch of the Gwangsan Kim clan. The ancestors originally lived in Gudam-ri, Pungcheon-myeon, but moved to Igye in Waryong-myeon, and Yuiljae Kim Eon-gi moved again to Gaya in his later years. It is said that in the late 1700s his ninth-generation descendant Kim Do-sang purchased and lived in this house. Its construction is estimated to date to the late 1600s. Yuiljae was a disciple of Toegye; he passed the saengwon (licentiate) examination in 1567, the 22nd year of King Myeongjong, and led the founding of Yeogang Seowon, devoting himself to educational activities and greatly contributing to the flourishing of literature in Andong. The Andong Yuiljae Head House sits facing south on the mid-slope of the hill behind the village. It consists of a square (ㅁ)-shaped main dwelling (jeongchim) and a shrine, with the shrine on a slightly higher rise behind and to the left of the main dwelling. In the main dwelling, the men's quarters and the servants' quarters line up to the left and right of the central gate, forming a straight (ㅡ) shape, and each of these is connected to the inner quarters by wings on both sides, forming an overall square (ㅁ) shape. The men's quarters to the left of the central gate consist of a men's room with a toenmaru (narrow veranda) installed at the front and a floored room projecting to the left. The inner quarters are centered on a six-bay daecheong (main wooden-floored hall) open at the front, with servants' quarters connected on the left and right. It is a mindori-style house with a single eave, built slightly higher than the side wings.