• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.23 no.3 s.75
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• pp.169-183
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• 2005

The present study purposed to identify differences and similarities in traditional residential space among Korea. China and Japan, which share similar social structure, and to make a comparative analysis on differences in traditional residential space according to family relation in the three countries. For these Purpose, this study selected residences, which are similar to one another in terns of time, class and economy and analyzed them using their floor plans and photographs. The results of this research are as follows. Knrea, China and Japan, all of which have family-centered social structure, separate their residential space from the external society and particularly women's space is placed inside men's space or in a secluded area. The most remarkable characteristic of residential space in Korea is the division of living spare between men and women. Space is allocated according to the hierarchical order of families. In this way, the position or order of family members is reflected in the use of space. Characteristically in China based on the large-family system each family is given a space for independent life. Particularly as the relation among brothers is emphasized, space is allocated equally to all brothers but the status of a space is determined by the order of the residents. Residential space in Japan is organized to emphasize the absolute authority and status of the head of the family. As the space is planned focused on the family head's daily life and guest reception, the relation among other family members is ignored. That is, Japanese residence is a social space for the family head's guest reception, Chinese residence is a family-centered space rather than a social space, and Korean residence accommodates both space for family life and social space.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2006

Korea and China have had close relations not only geographically but also ideally and culturally throughout history. Regarding their lifestyles on housing patterns, however, Koreans had a sedentary way of life, usually sitting on the floor while Chinese had a standing lifestyle, sitting on a chair. This paper tries to have a comparative analysis on similarities and distinctions of two countries' traditional furniture that had complied with each lifestyle. This paper also aims to explore the similarities and distinctions of the form and function of the traditional furniture of the two countries and then to put results of this paper in design and plan of modern furniture and housing in our times. The study can be summarized as follows. Even if, cultural and historical relationships of two countries, there is a different of traditional furniture's forms and types. The major differences are as following : Korean furniture is predominantly on the floor level with storing furniture while Chinese one is intermixed with seat-level and floor level styles. These characters seem to be derived from their own housing and life style. In Ming and Qing period China, Their developed in which intermediate people and building. But, in Korea their housing style had floating floor against wet earth, which finished woods, Ondol. Because of these finishing, the Korean traditional furniture was developed into a good form and a suitable dimension for moving. These differences in furnishing style seemed to well reflect building and housing style of each country. And Image map and positioning map can show the differences in a whole aspect.