Kim Jeong-rak working with woodThis photo shows Kim Jeong-rak, a master of traditional wooden architecture (Jeollabuk-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 30), working with wood.
Kim Jeong-rak, Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture, Jeollabuk-do Intangible Cultural HeritageThis photo shows Kim Jeong-rak, who is a master of traditional wooden architecture (Jeollabuk-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 30).
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Location6-5, Yeokgwi-gil Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean대목장
- Chinese大木匠
- FieldLifestyle & Folklore / Folklore
- Contents TypeConceptual Terminology / Conceptual Terminology (General)
- Definition
- A master wood-making craftsman who specializes in Korean traditional woodworking throughout Buan-gun county, Jeollabuk-do
- Summary
- “Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture)” refers to a master carpenter craftsman who specializes in building Korean traditional wooden structures. His skills include wood-cutting, architectural design and site inspection. Craftsmen who cut wood and build houses are generally called “mokjang” in Korean. Among them, carpenters who make woodwork fixtures such as doors, ceilings and railings are called “somok” as opposed to “daemok” who supervise large-scale construction. On top of carpenters who build wooden structures, there are other skilled craftsmen: “Gaejang,” who specializes in installing rooftiles; “Ijang”, in building earthen walls; “Dancheongjang”, in painting Korean traditional motifs; “Gachiljang”, in under-painting; and “Seoksu”, in stone masonry. Working closely with a number of skilled men, the “daemok” assumes a heavy responsibility in the entire process from structure design to site inspection. Kim Jeong-rak (金正洛) is a master Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) craftsman with specialized skills in designing and constructing Korean traditional wooden architecture in Buan-gun country, Jeollabuk-do.
- About Kim Jeong-Rak
- Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) master Kim Jeong-rak was born in 1935 in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do. His path to becoming a carpenter started at a young age when he made and sold wooden stamps. During his teen years, he learned the trade and by his 20s, he started to work alone. Mr. Kim first learned carpentry from Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) master Kim Hyeong-woo and later on, about wooden architecture from Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) master Cho Hyeong-seon, who lived in the nearby village. He was an expert in making the dual “Ikgong (二翼工)-style” joint for the ceiling. “Ikgong” refers to a joint style supporting the crossbeam of the ceiling. Master Kim also learned about the “pyot-jip”-style house from Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) master Koh Taek-yeong (海崗 高澤永, 1914~2004) who is also from Buan. He was selected as the National Intangible Cultural Asset No. 74. “Pyot-jip” is a house featuring multiple bracket sets under the girth designed to make the eaves longer, commonly seen in palatial buildings and pavilions. Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) master Kim Jeong-rak worked closely with Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) master Koh Taek-yeong to repair and restore major cultural assets throughout Korea, notably Confucian architectural works, such as schools, academies and shrines. He also built the main hall of Hyewonsa Temple located in Dongjung-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun and the Training Center for Buan-gun’s Intangible Cultural Assets located in Udong-ri, Boan-myeon and the Hanok Life Experiential Center at Jeonju Hanok Village.
- Current Status
- Every year, Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture) master Kim Jeong-rak gives lectures on Korean traditional architecture, from acquisition and cutting wood, design and allocation of structures through public presentations provided by the Buan Administrative Office. He has served as the administrative officer at the Buan Hyanggyo Confucian School and was selected as the Jeollabuk-do Intangible Cultural Asset No. 30 pertaining to “Daemokjang (Traditional Wooden Architecture)” on September 10, 2004.
- See Also