Major Species and Anatomical Characteristics of the Wood Used for National Use Specified in Yeonggeon-Uigwes of the Late Joseon Dynasty Period

Abstract

To find out the wood species used in national wood structures in the late Joseon Dynasty, 11 volumes of Yeonggeon-Uigwes were reviewed. It was confirmed that the wood was mainly used for the repair and restoration of palaces, shrines, and fortresses. In the 17th to 20th centuries, the wood species specified in Yeonggeon-Uigwes have revealed either hardwood or softwood. As hardwood species, Juglans mandshurica, Zelkova serrata, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Betula schmidtii, Paulownia coreana, or Quercus spp. (Quercus aliena; Q, variabilis; Q, dentata; Q, acutissima; Q, mongolica; Q, serrata) were used. As softwood species, Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis were used. Investigation of the wood species is important part because the same species is required as a principle when reparing cultural heritage. In this study, the anatomical images of the wood species were investigated for some samples which were taken from the same species that has been stored in the wood specimen room of the National Institute of Forest Science, instead of the actual wood material used. It was possible to find out the wood species of each member in the wooden cultural heritage buildings by reviewing the Yeonggeon-Uigwes in the late Joseon Dynasty, and the anatomical images of the wood species required for determining the wood species in the repair or restoration of the buildings.