Hanok and Its Cultural Significance During the Chosun Dynasty

Seohee Bang

Northfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Keywords: Hanok, Kiwa, Chosun Dynasty.

Abstract: Hanok, a traditional Korean architecture that emerged during the Chosun dynasty (1392–1897), embodies

Korean cultural, social, and spiritual values. Constructed with natural materials such as soil, timber, stone,

and Kiwa—a type of clay roof tiles—Hanok harmonizes with nature, adhering to the principles of Pungsujiri,

Korean geomancy. Its unique architectural features, including curved roofs, ondol underfloor heating systems,

and complex decorations reflect Korean values and beliefs during that period. The curved Kiwa roofs, and

adorned with symbolic motifs, represent cultural and spiritual significance, while the structural layouts show-

case social hierarchies. Decorative elements, including wood carvings and geometric patterns, further empha-

size spiritual values. Jeonju Gyeonggijeon in Jeonju Hanok Village is not only a functional structure but also

a significant cultural artifact, preserving Korea’s architectural and historical legacy. This paper explores the

diverse values of Hanok to promote its importance as a lasting representation of Korean heritage.

1 INTRODUCTION

Hanok is an architectural term describing Korean

traditional houses, also referred to as houses built and

used during the Chosun dynasty (1392-1897). There

are also multiple versions of hanok during the Chosun

dynasty; like Hanok is often referred to as houses that

could represent the Korean culture the best. Hanok is

usually constructed using soil, timber, and rock, but

most uniquely, Kiwa. Kiwa is a type that is used for

building Hanok roofs. Like normal pottery, Kiwa is

made of clay. The uniqueness of Hanok mostly comes

from the shape of the roof, and Kiwa is the material

that helps build the uniqueness of Hanok (Cultural

Heritage Administration, 2024).

Hanok currently holds a very high value in Korea

and globally due to its unique usage of materials and

patterns. Different architectural designs for Hanok

during the Chosun dynasty had various symbolism.

Hanok is not just a shelter for people to live in but is

also considered an artwork. The value of Hanok like

cultural, social, and spiritual values could be found

through elements like the roof shape, structural

layout, and decorations.

Hanok is a Korean traditional house, that first

evolved during the Chosun dynasty (1392-1897) and

embodies Korean culture and is designed to

harmonize with nature. Hanok is built with respect to

the principles of Pungsu-jiri which is Korean

geomancy, which emphasizes the balance between

the habitats of humans and the surrounding

environment (Jo, 2024). The Hanoks are built using

materials like soil, timber, stone, and Kiwa, which is

a material used for the roofs of Hanok. Kiwa allows

Hanoks to have a curved roof that enhances Hanok’s

uniqueness and sustainability.

Another unique feature of Hanok would be the

ondol floor. Ondol is an underfloor heating system

that uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to heat

the thick floor. It is not only an easier way to heat up

the house, but it also helps with blood circulation in

people’s legs and back. Moreover, the architectural

layout of Hanok also represents the social values of

the people. The layout often follows Confucian

ideals, with distinct spaces for men and women due

to their social rankings. The use of open courtyards

and verandas also strengthen the connection between

indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a serene living

environment (Jeonju Hanok Village, 2024). Today,

Hanok has been recognized globally for its cultural

significance and functional design. Hanok’s not aging

design, functionality, use of natural materials, and

cultural symbolism, make it a long-lasting example of

Korean architecture.

The purpose of the paper is to explore the

architectural and cultural values of Hanok, which is a

Korean traditional house during the Chosun dynasty.

This paper aims to present how the Hanok reflects

cultural, social, and spiritual values through elements

like the roof shape, structural layout, and decoration

398

Bang, S.

Hanok and Its Cultural Signiﬁcance During the Chosun Dynasty.

DOI: 10.5220/0013996900004912

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development (IESD 2025), pages 398-401

ISBN: 978-989-758-779-5

of the Hanok. Moreover, the paper is aimed to

promote Korean culture, especially traditional

architecture. Although Hanok is a globally valued

historical architecture, not everyone may be aware of

its importance of it, and why people value it. This

paper seeks to develop a better understanding of

Hanok, and how it represents cultural, social, and

spiritual values through multiple elements.

2 CONNECTION BETWEEN

HANOK ROOF SHAPES AND

CULTURAL VALUES

The cultural value of Hanok during the Chosun

dynasty was strongly influenced by the shape of the

roofs and the materials used to build Hanok. Kiwa

roofs are rare roofs to see in other places, and in

modern-day Korea. Kiwa is generally black and is

shaped like a semi-cylinder. It has multiple benefits.

For instance, Kiwa is a great material to use when

wanting to express the curvy shape of the roof, easy

to control its shape and color, and most importantly,

it is environmentally friendly. Kiwa is made of clay,

and it helps you avoid overheating, quick climate

change, and humidity. Kiwa is not only useful but is

also a strong tool to introduce Korean history during

the Chosun dynasty to others (Korea National

University of Cultural Heritage, 2025).

The uniqueness of Hanoks during the Chosun

dynasty is increased by the shape of the roof, and for

the roof to be shaped like a curve, it needs the help of

Kiwa. Moreover, sometimes Kiwas are decorated

with traditional Korean patterns or images that could

express the cultural value behind Hanok. The most

drawn things on the Kiwa would be different kinds of

flowers and animals. For instance, lotus flowers are

seen a lot in temples to represent enlightenment and

spiritual growth. Dragons are also often seen on Kiwa

to represent power and protection. Particularly, they

are mostly seen in houses of people who have high

social status like palaces. This is because that the

people during the Chosun dynasty believed that

dragons could drive away evil spirits (Cultural

Heritage Administration, 2024).

3 CONNECTION BETWEEN

STRUCTURAL LAYOUTS AND

SOCIAL VALUES

The structural layout of Hanok could represent the

social class of citizens during the Chosun dynasty.

The social class of the residents could be clearly

defined by the size of the Hanok, the decorations of

the Hanok, the materials used for building the Hanok,

and the location of the Hanok.

The size of the Hanok is clearly differentiated

based on their social status. The Yangban, who are in

the highest class in the Chosun dynasty would have

lard sprawling houses with various courtyards, while

Sangmin or Cheunmin who were commoners would

live in much smaller and simpler houses. Many of

the Sangmin or Cheunmin lived in thatched houses or

shingled houses. The Chosun government regulated

the number of rooms, and the size of the Hanok based

on the social rank of the owner. For instance, a

yangban’s Hanok would have separate areas for men

and women and would include additional rooms like

storage rooms (Jeonju Hanok Village, 2024; Jo, 2024;

National Folk Museum of Korea, 2025; National

Institute of Korean History, 2024).

People who were in a higher social class would

also live in Hanok that are built with better materials.

For instance, wealthier people might also have Ondol

floor heating, which helps them stay warm during the

winter as well. Living in a Hanok already indicates

high social status, as the Sangmins or Cheunmins

would probably be lived in places made of straws.

Lastly, the people who were wealthier would also

have great locations. In Yangban houses, the Sarang

Chae is located near the main gate, while the An Chae

for women is private and locates deeper inside the

house (Kim et al., 2018).

4 CONNECTION BETWEEN

DECORATION OF HANOK AND

SPIRITUAL VALUES

The decorative elements of Hanok, showcasing the

beliefs and desires of its habitants, expresses its

spiritual values. The roof of Hanok commonly

includes symbolic motifs, such as lotus flowers,

dragons, phoenixes, and peony flowers. The

phoenixes often symbolize peace and harmony and

are related to royalty. Peony flowers are symbolism

for wealth, honor, and beauty, which represents good

luck. Additionally, wood carvings and paintings on

Hanok and Its Cultural Signiﬁcance During the Chosun Dynasty

399

Hanok can increase the spiritual values of Hanok, like

the spiritual value of a person's belief. The carvings

on the wood may also differentiate based on the

religion (Cultural Heritage Administration, 2024).

However, during the Chosun dynasty, the

carvings are mostly related to Buddhism as it was the

most common religion that people believed. Some

common wood carvings include cranes that

symbolize longevity and peace, pine trees that

symbolize resilience and steadfastness, and peonies

that indicate wealth and beauty (Cultural Heritage

Administration, 2024).

Not only wood carvings but also patterns on doors

and windows are the place where spiritual values

were most expressed. Some good examples could be

geometrics and Taegeuk (yin-yang), a traditional

symbol of Korea, which can also be found on the

Korean flag. The geometrics represent harmony and

order, and Taegeuk symbolizes balance and the unity

of opposites. Moreover, the emphasis on symmetry

and balance represents a harmonious relationship

between the spiritual world, human beings, nature,

etc. It is also reflective of the Confucian and Taoist

philosophies that deeply influenced the Chosun

Dynasty (Cultural Heritage Administration, 2024).

5 JEONJU GYEONGGIJEON AS

AN EXAMPLE

In modern South Korea, it is hard to see Hanok in

daily life. However, there are still several Hanok

villages existing, and a famous one would be the

Jeonju Hanok Village. Jeonju is a city in South Korea

that is famous for its cultural heritage. It is a huge

tourist attraction, and especially the Jeonju Hanok

Village contains lots of well-preserved traditional

Korean houses. The village also contains various

national historic sites like the Jeonju Gyeonggijeon

(Cultural Heritage Administration, 2025; National

Institute of Korean History, 2024).

Jeonju Gyeonggijeon is the Korea Historic Site

No. 339. It was built in 1410 during the Chosun

Dynasty, in the 10th year of King Taejon, the founder

of the Chosun dynasty’s rule. The Gyeonggijeon also

includes a portrait of King Taejon, which is Treasure

No. 931. The Jeongjeon, the main hall, is a five-beam

structure covered with a gabled roof, featuring

detailed triple-bracket sets in the mid-Chosun style

and double eaves. An open ceremonial pavilion

creates the front exterior of the Main Hall, its roof

gables representing the front of the roof (Cultural

Heritage Administration, 2025; National Institute of

Korean History, 2024).

Both buildings have plain round columns, and

they stand on granite foundations. Inside the Main

Hall, there are two tall pillars 5.8 meters high that

support the horizontal beams, and the side columns

are also quite tall that they can support the main

crossbeams. The neat and solid roof structure that is

built of carefully proportioned and skillfully carved

members, showcases accurate joining and fitting

techniques as well as adroit carving skills. The

beautiful, coffered ceiling increases the dignified

ambiance of the royal portrait hall, distinguishing it

from other Confucian buildings and signifies the high

social class (Cultural Heritage Administration, 2025;

Seoul Metropolitan Government, 2024).

Furthermore, the stern atmosphere is further

emphasized by the spirit road stretching from the

inner spirit gate to the Main Hall, the incense burners,

and the columned corridors surrounding the elegant

complex of the Main Hall. When observing the

ceiling of the Gyeonggijeon, it uses a variety of

colors. During the Chosun dynasty, it was very rare

for Hanok to be colored, and whenever it is colored,

it most likely shows that the Hanok is the royal

family’s province. Right above the portrait of King

Taejeon, there are several patterns that include lotus

flowers. These flowers represent enlightenment and

spiritual growth, and peony flowers symbolize

wealth, honor, beauty, and good luck (Cultural

Heritage Administration, 2025; National Institute of

Korean History, 2024; Seoul Metropolitan

Government, 2024).

To conclude, the Jeonju Hanok Village contains

highly valued landmarks like the Gyeonggijeon,

which represents the cultural and architectural

heritage of South Korea. This preserved site not only

provides a glimpse into the artistry of the Chosun

dynasty but also reminds people of the values and

traditions in Korean history. The complex details,

symbolic designs, and imposing atmosphere of the

Gyeonggijeon strongly highlight the importance of

Hanok in Korea’s cultural legacy. By preserving and

appreciating these national treasures, the cultural

legacy could be continued during the modern

generations and be shared with the world (National

Institute of Korean History, 2024).

6 CONCLUSION

Hanok is a remarkable expression of South Korean

culture, embodying multiple values such as cultural,

social, and spiritual beliefs. These values are

conveyed through various architectural elements: the

uniquely curved roof shape from Kiwa clay tiles, the

IESD 2025 - International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development

400

structural layout that provides an idea of different

social classes, and the decorations that symbolize

various believes and religious traditions. These values

allow observers to easily understand the importance

of Hanok and why it is admired, not only historically,

but also in the art and cultural world.

By examining Hanok’s symbolic features and

architectural designs, this research underscores its

multifaceted significance as more than a shelter but a

continuing piece of cultural heritage and artistic

expression. The Jeonju Gyeonggijeon and the

surrounding Hanok Village serve as exemplary cases,

demonstrating the intricate craftsmanship, cultural

symbolism, and historical importance of Hanok.

This study contributes to a deeper understanding

of Hanok’s role in preserving Korean identity and its

relevance in a global context. By emphasizing its

architectural success and cultural depth, the findings

support greater appreciation, preservation, and

promotion of Hanok as a vital component of Korea’s

legacy, ensuring its values and traditions are

celebrated and passed on to future generations.

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