Ondol (ON-dol; /ˈɒn.dɒl/,[1]Hangul: 온돌, 溫堗, Korean pronunciation: [on.dol]) or gudeul (Hangul: 구들, Korean pronunciation: [ku.dɯl]) in Korean traditional architecture, is underfloor heating that uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to heat the underside of a thick masonry floor. In modern usage it refers to any type of underfloor heating, or to a hotel or a sleeping room in Korean (as opposed to Western) style.
The main components of the traditional ondol are an agungi (firebox or stove) accessible from an adjoining room (typically kitchen or master bedroom), a raised masonry floor underlain by horizontal smoke passages, and a vertical, freestanding chimney on the opposite exterior wall providing a draft. The heated floor, supported by stone piers or baffles to distribute the smoke, is covered by stone slabs, clay and an impervious layer such as oiled paper.
Use of the ondol has been found at archaeological sites in present-day North Korea. A Neolithic Age archaeological site, circa 5000 BC, discovered in Unggi, Hamgyeongbuk-do, in present-day North Korea, shows a clear vestige of gudeul in the excavated dwelling (Korean: 움집).
Early ondols began as gudeul that provided the heating for a home and for cooking. When a fire was lit in the furnace to cook rice for dinner, the flame would extend horizontally because the flue entry was beside the furnace. This arrangement was essential, as it would not allow the smoke to travel upward, which would cause the flame to go out too soon. As the flame would pass through the flue entrance, it would be guided through the network of passages with the smoke. Entire rooms would be built on the furnace flue to create ondol floored rooms.[2]
Etymology
The term gudeul is a native Korean word. According to a Korean folkloric historian Son Jintae (1900 - missing during the 1950-53 Korean War), gudeul originated from guun-dol (Korean), which means "heated stone", and its pronunciation has changed into gudol or gudul, and again into gudeul.
The term ondol is Sino-Korean and was introduced around the end of the 19th century.[3] Alternate names include (janggaeng (Korean: 장갱; Hanja: 長坑), hwagaeng (Korean: 화갱; Hanja: 火坑), nandol (Korean: 난돌; Hanja: 暖突), and yeondol (Korean: 연돌; Hanja: 烟突)).[4]
Use
Ondol had traditionally been used as a living space for sitting, eating, sleeping and other pastimes in most Korean homes before the 1960s. Koreans are accustomed to sitting and sleeping on the floor, and working and eating at low tables instead of raised tables with chairs.[5] The furnace burned mainly rice paddy straws, agricultural crop waste, biomass or any kind of dried firewood. For short-term cooking, rice paddy straws or crop waste was preferred, while long hours of cooking and floor heating needed longer-burning firewood. Unlike modern-day water heaters, the fuel was either sporadically or regularly burned (two to five times a day), depending on frequency of cooking and seasonal weather conditions.
With the traditional ondol heating, the floor closer to the furnace was normally warm enough, and the warmest spots reserved for elders and honored guests. Ondol had problems such as environmental pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from burning coal briquettes. Thus, other technology heats modern Korean homes.
The famous American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, was building a hotel in Japan, and was invited to a Japanese family's house. The homeowner had experienced the ondol in Korea, and he built an ondol room in his house. Wright reportedly was so impressed[citation needed] that he invented radiant floor heating which uses hot water as the heating medium. Some of Wright's buildings employed this system.[citation needed]
Instead of ondol-hydronic radiant floor heating, modern-day houses such as high-rise apartments have a modernized version of the ondol system. Many architects know the advantages and benefits of ondol, and they are using ondol in modern houses. Since the ondol has been introduced to many countries, it is beginning to be considered as one of the systems of home heating. Modern ondol are not the same as the original version. Almost all Koreans use modern versions, so it is hard to find the traditional ondol system in Korean houses.[6] North Korea still utilizes the basic traditional design of the Ondol that use mostly coal instead of biomass to survive the harsh winters.
High exhaust vents jutting sideways
Chimney for fumes
Chimney
Exhaust vents as sideways-oriented pipes
Advantages and disadvantages
One of the advantages of an Ondol is that it can maintain heat for an extended period. In a traditional Korean house, people usually extinguish the fire before going to sleep at night, since it can stay warm until the morning. An ondol conducts heat evenly throughout the whole room, although the part of the room closest to the agungi is much warmer. Comparing the Ondol with the Western radiator: the heat from the radiator rises towards the ceiling, but Ondol keeps both the floor and the air in the room warm. The advantage of the Ondol is that people do not have to worry about breakdown and repair of the Ondol.[citation needed] The Ondol is part of the house, therefore, it is less likely to run into problems. Any combustible materials can be used as fuel for the Ondol; there are no special fuel requirements. In contrast to heaters, such as fireplaces or charcoal-based heaters that leave ash in the room, Ondol does not cause pollution in the room leaving it clean and warm.[citation needed][7][8]
The Ondol has some disadvantages. Mud and stones are one of the main materials that make up the Ondol. Such materials take quite a long time to heat up, therefore the room takes a long time to warm up. In addition, it is difficult to adjust the temperature of the room.[7]
Dol bed
The dol bed, or stone bed, is a manufactured bed that has the same heating effect as ondol. The dol bed industry is estimated to be worth 100 billion Korean won, comprising 30 to 40 percent of the entire bed industry in South Korea; dol beds are most popular with middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s.[9][10]
^"'스톤 매트리스'로 돌침대 시장 깨운다". 헤럴드경제 미주판 Heraldk.com. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
^"[Biz] 돌침대 시장". MK News. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ondol.
March 03, 2023
ondol, hangul, 온돌, 溫堗, korean, pronunciation, gudeul, hangul, 구들, korean, pronunciation, dɯl, korean, traditional, architecture, underfloor, heating, that, uses, direct, heat, transfer, from, wood, smoke, heat, underside, thick, masonry, floor, modern, usage, . Ondol ON dol ˈ ɒ n d ɒ l 1 Hangul 온돌 溫堗 Korean pronunciation on dol or gudeul Hangul 구들 Korean pronunciation ku dɯl in Korean traditional architecture is underfloor heating that uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to heat the underside of a thick masonry floor In modern usage it refers to any type of underfloor heating or to a hotel or a sleeping room in Korean as opposed to Western style An illustration of the ondol system Korean nameHangul온돌Hanja溫突 溫堗Revised RomanizationondolMcCune ReischauerondolIPA on dol Hangul구들Revised RomanizationgudeulMcCune ReischauerkudŭlIPA ku dɯl The main components of the traditional ondol are an agungi firebox or stove accessible from an adjoining room typically kitchen or master bedroom a raised masonry floor underlain by horizontal smoke passages and a vertical freestanding chimney on the opposite exterior wall providing a draft The heated floor supported by stone piers or baffles to distribute the smoke is covered by stone slabs clay and an impervious layer such as oiled paper Contents 1 History 1 1 Origin 1 2 Etymology 2 Use 3 Advantages and disadvantages 4 Dol bed 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditOrigin Edit Use of the ondol has been found at archaeological sites in present day North Korea A Neolithic Age archaeological site circa 5000 BC discovered in Unggi Hamgyeongbuk do in present day North Korea shows a clear vestige of gudeul in the excavated dwelling Korean 움집 Early ondols began as gudeul that provided the heating for a home and for cooking When a fire was lit in the furnace to cook rice for dinner the flame would extend horizontally because the flue entry was beside the furnace This arrangement was essential as it would not allow the smoke to travel upward which would cause the flame to go out too soon As the flame would pass through the flue entrance it would be guided through the network of passages with the smoke Entire rooms would be built on the furnace flue to create ondol floored rooms 2 Etymology Edit The term gudeul is a native Korean word According to a Korean folkloric historian Son Jintae 1900 missing during the 1950 53 Korean War gudeul originated from guun dol Korean which means heated stone and its pronunciation has changed into gudol or gudul and again into gudeul The term ondol is Sino Korean and was introduced around the end of the 19th century 3 Alternate names include janggaeng Korean 장갱 Hanja 長坑 hwagaeng Korean 화갱 Hanja 火坑 nandol Korean 난돌 Hanja 暖突 and yeondol Korean 연돌 Hanja 烟突 4 Use EditOndol had traditionally been used as a living space for sitting eating sleeping and other pastimes in most Korean homes before the 1960s Koreans are accustomed to sitting and sleeping on the floor and working and eating at low tables instead of raised tables with chairs 5 The furnace burned mainly rice paddy straws agricultural crop waste biomass or any kind of dried firewood For short term cooking rice paddy straws or crop waste was preferred while long hours of cooking and floor heating needed longer burning firewood Unlike modern day water heaters the fuel was either sporadically or regularly burned two to five times a day depending on frequency of cooking and seasonal weather conditions With the traditional ondol heating the floor closer to the furnace was normally warm enough and the warmest spots reserved for elders and honored guests Ondol had problems such as environmental pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from burning coal briquettes Thus other technology heats modern Korean homes The famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was building a hotel in Japan and was invited to a Japanese family s house The homeowner had experienced the ondol in Korea and he built an ondol room in his house Wright reportedly was so impressed citation needed that he invented radiant floor heating which uses hot water as the heating medium Some of Wright s buildings employed this system citation needed Instead of ondol hydronic radiant floor heating modern day houses such as high rise apartments have a modernized version of the ondol system Many architects know the advantages and benefits of ondol and they are using ondol in modern houses Since the ondol has been introduced to many countries it is beginning to be considered as one of the systems of home heating Modern ondol are not the same as the original version Almost all Koreans use modern versions so it is hard to find the traditional ondol system in Korean houses 6 North Korea still utilizes the basic traditional design of the Ondol that use mostly coal instead of biomass to survive the harsh winters High exhaust vents jutting sideways Chimney for fumes Chimney Exhaust vents as sideways oriented pipesAdvantages and disadvantages EditOne of the advantages of an Ondol is that it can maintain heat for an extended period In a traditional Korean house people usually extinguish the fire before going to sleep at night since it can stay warm until the morning An ondol conducts heat evenly throughout the whole room although the part of the room closest to the agungi is much warmer Comparing the Ondol with the Western radiator the heat from the radiator rises towards the ceiling but Ondol keeps both the floor and the air in the room warm The advantage of the Ondol is that people do not have to worry about breakdown and repair of the Ondol citation needed The Ondol is part of the house therefore it is less likely to run into problems Any combustible materials can be used as fuel for the Ondol there are no special fuel requirements In contrast to heaters such as fireplaces or charcoal based heaters that leave ash in the room Ondol does not cause pollution in the room leaving it clean and warm citation needed 7 8 The Ondol has some disadvantages Mud and stones are one of the main materials that make up the Ondol Such materials take quite a long time to heat up therefore the room takes a long time to warm up In addition it is difficult to adjust the temperature of the room 7 Dol bed EditThe dol bed or stone bed is a manufactured bed that has the same heating effect as ondol The dol bed industry is estimated to be worth 100 billion Korean won comprising 30 to 40 percent of the entire bed industry in South Korea dol beds are most popular with middle aged people in their 40s and 50s 9 10 See also EditUnderfloor heating Korean architecture Culture of Korea Hypocaust Rocket mass heater Gloria heating system Kang bed stove Masonry heater Frank Lloyd WrightReferences Edit ondol Oxford Dictionaries Oxford University Press Archived from the original on September 30 2016 Retrieved 21 August 2017 History of Radiant Heating amp Cooling Systems PDF Healthyheating com Retrieved 2016 05 19 엠파스 리포트 리포트 논문 자료 한번에 찾자 Archived from the original on March 7 2008 Retrieved December 8 2007 온돌 in Korean Doopedia Retrieved 2019 09 21 Donald N Clark 2000 Culture and Customs of Korea GreenwoodPress p 94 ISBN 0313304564 Traditional Korean Heating System www antiquealive com Retrieved 2016 04 10 a b All That Korea Ondol the very unique Korean heating system atkorea blogspot kr 26 May 2013 Retrieved 2016 04 10 미디어광장 메인 www hanyang ac kr Retrieved 2016 04 10 permanent dead link 스톤 매트리스 로 돌침대 시장 깨운다 헤럴드경제 미주판 Heraldk com Retrieved 22 September 2016 Biz 돌침대 시장 MK News Retrieved 22 September 2016 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ondol The Herbert Offen Research Collection of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ondol amp oldid 1136210266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
