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Anbang (Korean: 안방, Hanja: -房), also known as Anchae (Korean: 안채) is a room in a traditional Korean house ( hanok) functioning as the space for the head women of a family.
It is considered to be the symbol of the head woman's place in the household.
Anbang (Korean: 안방, Hanja: -房), also known as Anchae (Korean: 안채) is a room in a traditional Korean house ( hanok) functioning as the space for the head women of a family.
It is considered to be the symbol of the head woman's place in the household.
Meaning
Anbang is literally translated as "inner room" (안, ''an'', "inner, interior"; 방(房), ''bang'', "room"). The term is used to refer to the room in a traditional Korean house that is the residence of the head woman of the family or household.Description
The anbang is the sanctuary for the head woman of the household. The floor of the room is covered withlaminate
Lamination is the technique/process of manufacturing a material in multiple layers, so that the composite material achieves improved strength, stability, sound insulation, appearance, or other properties from the use of the differing materials ...
paper covered with bean oil (장판지마감), or a reed mat Reed mat may refer to:
*Reed mat (craft), handmade mats produced in Thailand and India
*Reed mat (plastering) {{unreferenced, date=October 2008
Reed mat is lathing supplied in a roll. It is made from natural reeds laid parallel, and bound using zi ...
covering the soil floor of the ondol. There may also be doors leading to the attic
An attic (sometimes referred to as a '' loft'') is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building; an attic may also be called a ''sky parlor'' or a garret. Because attics fill the space between the ceiling of the ...
on the front part of the kitchen, and the lower part of the floor is covered with a thin blanket.
On the side of the room or the place farthest away from the heater, cabinets were placed. Cloth hangers were placed on corners of the rooms, and seats were placed for the comfort of the owner. Other furniture, such as desks, may also be present. During winter, a brazier was placed on the center of the room. Frequently, hot iron used for sewing was heated up in the brazier. Folding screen
A folding screen, also known as pingfeng (), is a type of free-standing furniture consisting of several frames or panels, which are often connected by hinges or by other means. They have practical and decorative uses, and can be made in a variet ...
s were placed either around the mattress
A mattress is a large, usually rectangular pad for supporting a lying person. It is designed to be used as a bed, or on a bed frame as part of a bed. Mattresses may consist of a quilted or similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, conta ...
or the windows to keep out the cold. Curtains were also used to stop the cold. On a part of the room, a portable lantern
A lantern is an often portable source of lighting, typically featuring a protective enclosure for the light sourcehistorically usually a candle or a wick in oil, and often a battery-powered light in modern timesto make it easier to carry and h ...
may be placed to be used as a nightlight.
The four walls are all covered in wallpaper. Upper class houses have special wallpapers on the walls. The ceiling is usually covered with a paper wallpaper (종이반자), though there are instances in which the rafters are left exposed. The first layer of the ceiling is covered with scrap paper, the second layer with thicker paper, and the last layer was covered in colored paper from the five colors of the rainbow.
Purpose
The anbang is considered the most closed off room in the house and is placed the furthest from the maingate
A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word derived from old Norse "gat" meaning road or path; But other terms include ''yett and port''. The concept originally referred to the gap or hole in the wall ...
. People other than the head woman's husband and family are not permitted to enter the anbang without permission. Also, as the space of the head lady of the household, it is used as the center to manage all the housekeeping. It is used to store all the keys and the valuables inside the house. When a bride is introduced inside the house, the previous lady of the house usually moves to another room and leaves the possession of the room to the new woman.
See also
*Sarangbang
Sarangbang (사랑방, 舍廊房) is a room located in a Korean traditional house ( hanok) which served as a man's room, used for studying, writing poetry, and leisure activities.Hanok
References
Architecture in Korea {{room-stub