이조시대 사랑방 가구에 관한 고찰

Abstract

This paper intends to explain the real features and forms of the furnitures almost exclusive to the sarang-bang, a kind of men's living-room in old Korean house during the Yi dynasty period (1392-1910 A.D). Despite the fact that these furnitures were used by the yangbar, a pseudo-aristocracy of old Korea, the feartures given expression to these furnitures by their almost aesthetic living philosophy are simple in style, unlike the handicrafts of the aristocrarcy. what's more, because of ondol, the peculiar room-heating system in Korea on which floor they sat, the furnitures have features different from those of Chinese who used chairs and stools, and at the same time these frunitures as a reflection of the scholar-officials' mode of life, are also distinguished from those furnitures used in the main living-room(annbang), the women's living guarter. The furnitures in the men's living room in those days, though some of them are little pieces that can hardly be called the table(t'akcha), wardrobes(chang), lower desk(soan) and inkstone case (yonsang). In form, they are made in the form of oblong rectangle, and because they are made up with thin boards and equally thin and long supporting props, they are characterized by simple and linear features. In function they were made to serve various purpose of the owners such as studying, meditating, indulging in romantic pursuits, and esthetic appreciation, whereas those in the women's quarter were used for routine uses such as wardrobes, cusinery and dwelling. In design, we could feel that the furnitures are rather simple and plain, the effect produced by keeping intact with original colors and textures of the wood. The reason why these wooden furnitures are held in high esteem along with the white porcelains of the Yi dynasty period is that these two items reflect the feeling of the life of these people, and that they are so well regulated by the plastic standard that they have the grace of simplicity. And their artistic value is highly recognized by this grace of simplicity.