NORTHEAST ASIAN HISTORY FOUNDATION 05/2023
-
Professor Jeon Ho-tae, Department of History and Culture, University of Ulsan
Jjimjilbang = ondol, Korean content
Jjimjilbang is one of the cultural contents that promote Korea. Neither the government nor civilians single out jjimjilbang as Korean content to promote it to the world, but jjimjilbangs are seen throughout the Korean society, and locals also pay a visit to enjoy the hot sauna. Jjimjilbang is definitely the Korean content that is spreading quietly.
Jjimjilbang is based on the principle of ondol, an underfloor heating system familiar to Koreans. Korean ondol began from Buk-okjeo(Northern Okjeo) and was passed down to Goguryeo. Burning wood in the agungi(furnace) heats the floors by warming the gudeul(stone) installed on top of the gorae(air duct) as the heat travels under the floor through several rows of gorae. The heated gudeul warms up the thin earthen floor which then warms up those laying down on the floor. This principle was applied to heating homes.
If there are several rooms in the house, the fire started in agungi warms up the room not adjacent to the kitchen, as it immediately circulates through the gorae while the room adjacent to the kitchen heats the pot placed on the buttumak (stove) as well as heating the room. Thus, cooking and heating can be done simultaneously once a fire is started. This is why the fire starting in the agungi of buttumaks is best to burn steadily. If the wood burns too quickly, the high temperature may boil the soup and cook the rice quickly, but the heat circulating in the gorae will be too strong, delivering excessive heat to the gudeul.
The reason the agungi of Goguryeo buttumaks is in a different direction
Let’s think this through. The straw mat and bedding won’t be intact on the hot floor of the ondol room. The earthen floor on top of the gudeul will be too dry and start to crack. These aren’t the only problems. Unfortunately, a month’s worth of firewood stacked in the shed next to the kitchen will be used up in just ten days. Who would think an ondol room is great if too much fuel is used when it’s not easy to gather firewood, burn foods while cooking, and the bedding on the floor turn yellow from the heat?
Goguryeo people were well aware of these problems. They made sure the direction of the agungi is aligned with the chimney ever since they placed “…” shaped stones for ventilation and to avoid the fire being too flared up. The hole for the agungi of buttumaks at 90 degrees with the inner passage that leads to the chimney doesn’t allow smooth ventilation which did not allow the fire to blaze up over time even when firewood is added.
Models of buttumaks were excavated several times from Goguryeo tombs. Whether it’s made with porcelain or steel, the agungi of the Goguryeo buttumak models had a passage connected to the chimney and curved in a 90-degree direction. Also, only one pot can be placed on top of the buttumaks since there is only one hole. The space between where the pot is placed and the chimney is where the air duct is made, then the gudeul is placed which is covered with the earthen floor. This is what you call the ondol.
On the other hand, the direction of the agungi for all buttumak models excavated from the remains of the Han dynasty to the Tang dynasty in China is in the shape of “…” with the chimney. This structure allows good ventilation. The fire started at the agungi of buttumaks in this structure can only be blazing. This is why Chinese buttumaks have several holes on top. Several pots and pans could be placed on top of the multiple holes to cook a number of foods due to the strong fire. Cookware on top of buttumaks is not distanced from the chimney to allow the heat to escape immediately. This type of buttumak does not use fire for heating.
The agungi’s direction has influenced warm staples and cold side dishes
Ondol, which spread from Goguryeo to Baekje and Silla as the underfloor heating method, is representative of the Korean lifestyle that is different from other countries. Koreans take off their shoes when entering their homes to sit or lie down on the floor. Shoes did not need to be worn indoors since the ondol lifestyle in the traditional society did not require a bed. In addition, rooms had to be kept clean since bedding was laid down on the floor. Thus, shoes were not allowed indoors.
It was common for Koreans to serve cold side dishes while only rice and soup were warm since the heat had to be used efficiently with the fire started in the agungi. Warm staples and cold side dishes were not surprising to Koreans and did not find pickled or blanched and seasoned side dishes to be odd.
The neighboring Chinese who mainly served warm one-dish meals were not used to Korean meals with cold side dishes. Ssam, a dish that uses leafy vegetables to wrap rice with some side dishes or sauce, could only seem strange to those who usually eat cooked foods. Isn’t it interesting to see how Koreans eat and sleep in a unique way compared to neighboring countries simply because of the different direction of the agungi of Goguryeo buttumaks?
The user can freely use the public work without fee, but it is not permitted to use for commercial purpose, or to change or modify the contents of public work.
- Northeast Asia History Network
- Northeast Asia History Library
- DOKDO Research Institute
- DOKDO Museum Seoul
- Education and Training
