Chunghyodang of the Yean Yi Clan, Andong

About this place

The Chunghyodang of the Yean Yi clan in Andong is a house of deep historical significance, bound up with the loyalty (chung) and filial piety (hyo) of Yi Hong-in and his son; Yi Hong-in served as a righteous-army commander during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and died for his country. As the home of the descendants of Yi Hong-in, it is believed to have been built in the 6th year of King Myeongjong (1551), so it is estimated to be mid-Joseon architecture, and is called "Chunghyodang." The women's quarters and the men's quarters are joined together, forming the square-shaped (ㅁ-shaped) plan commonly seen in the Andong region. It is a modest house with the center laid out as a courtyard, and it has gates opening to the outside on the south and west sides. The south gate was the original main gate, but the west gate is now used as the main entrance; it appears that the passage gate was moved after the outer wing that had run parallel outside the west gate was demolished. The house has door frames that are broad and sturdy relative to the space, and the many doorways make it intriguing. On the west side stands a detached quarters called "Ssangsudang," a straight (一-shaped) building with a hip-and-gable roof whose sides form the shape of the character for "eight" (八). "Ssangsudang" means that both loyalty and filial piety were fulfilled within one household: it honors the loyal righteousness of Yi Hong-in, who took the field as a righteous-army commander during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and died valiantly fighting the enemy, and the profound filial piety of his descendant Han-o. Although the house has been partly repaired and altered, it sits against a low hill overlooking the Pungsan plain. Moreover, unlike most upper-class houses, it has a strong character of a modest, common folk dwelling. (Source: Korea Heritage Service)