Ondol History
Backje Dynasty Era Ondol Relics
Backje Dynasty Era Ondol Relics Ondol cal also be seen at the Neolithich Age relics of around B.C.5000 and was also painted on the Goguryo Dynasty tomb fresco of Anak No. 3 Tomb in Whanghae-Do around 4 century.
Pattern of the Tong Gudeul that Ondol was made into room began to appear from the end of the Goryo Dynasty.
It was mainly used by rich class and mainly used for room of the patient or the aged.
Considered difficulty of making or management and fuel consumption, it was deemed luxurious heating method.
- There is a record on the True Record of the Joseon Dynasty of May 14 King Taejong 17th years (1417) that directed to make a one Ondol room for the sick persons among the Confucian scholars of Sunggyunkwan whose establish meant was not passed long.
When sees this, we can recognize that they did not use the Ondol room completely.
Afterwards King Sejong 7th years (1425) directed to increase the Ondol of Sunggyunkwan by 5 rooms and were entirely become the Ondol room only when 16 century sets in.
In general all used bed and were wooden floor.
According to the Joseon Dynasty King Myungjong 18th years (1563) of February 4 there was a fire accident in the bed of the King and among the situation explanations at that time it describes that made a small Ondol structure on the bed of the King and warmed up the place.
Further it mentions that at that time put the stone wrong through carelessness and heat of fire approached to the bed then burnt. According to the True Record of the Joseon Dynasty of March 5 on King Injo 2nd years (1624), since a story is appeared that even rooms where servants of the gentry dwells in were already all Ondols from the Kwanghaegun ruling period and rooms of the lady attendants too in the royal palace were changed into the Ondol rooms as it is not good that lady attendants in the royal palace dwells in the board-framed house, we can learn that spread of the Ondol to the royal palace were completed.
Passing by the 16 century 17 century which is even called Small Glacial Epoch whose weather is exceptionally cold, Ondol was gradually spread and at the latter half of the Joseon Dynasty Ondol was widely used to even thatched cottage of the ordinary folks.
Fuel of Ondol
Traditional Ondol mainly used straw or wood as fuel of the cooking fireplace.
Mr. Duckki Kim at the time of the King Sukjong used to make fuel (firewood) made of horse dung in Dongrae and used to use charcoal.
However, traditional Ondol consumed too many woods as fuel and used to be a reason destructing environment.
[1] Fuel in the Joseon Dynasty was the most important living article along with cotton, rice. After 1960's major fuel was substituted to briquette and now boiler that is using the oil was spread a lot.
Hostage-held- advisor(其人) who provides Shimok(fuel) under tribute in the royal palace provided fuel and charcoal, and ordinary boys in civilian society did play a great deal of firewood gatherer role.
Modern Ondol
ㆍ Entering into 1970's, warm water boiler that made the best use of the Ondol pattern was developed and is being used until now, so as to reduce the carbon monoxide poisoning damage as well as solve the heat efficiency problem.
Warm water boiler, which is currently main force of the home heating method, is widely being used in replace of traditional Ondol.
Today, we can hardly see the traditional Ondol in the region where fuel supply & demand for Ondol like urban area etc is difficult, and instead various methods such as warm water boiler, Ondol floor, electric Ondol used midnight electricity etc. are being used. It is on account of convenience, supply problem of traditional fuel, safety reason like gas poisoning etc., easiness of installation and management.
Present warm water boiler uses various energies such as briquette, coal, oil, electricity etc., and can mix various kinds of fuel depending on the case, and new design of cost saving type considered heat efficiency and convenience such as semi-automatic replacement of briquette or coal, use of midnight electricity etc.
is continuously being researched developed. Even today traditional Ondol is being executed in the region where not get big hindrance to the fuel purchase does for the Ondol though, strict execution standard and execution supervision item pursuant to the relevant laws & regulations are applied to the building etc.
in which people resides. Besides the house in which people lives, Ondol of traditional design pattern that use fuel(straw and wood or briquette) that can relatively get easily at a farmhouse as a heating method of stall and greenhouse is also used.
Furthermore, in the back country, high mountainous district, islands etc. where installation of the warm water boiler is not suitable because of frozen-burst of the warm water pipe or difficulty in managing, and continuous supply of coal, oil and gas etc. is difficult, still traditional Ondol is frequently executed and used.
