Historical study of Korean traditional houses have been carried, mainly, based on the geographical region of Korean peninsula. However, the case of primitive houses can not be researched according to the geographical and racial concept of modern nations. This study aims to examine the primitive houses of ethnic minorities of northeastern China, where the cultural and racial background have been deeply rooted in the history of Korea as well as Korean traditional houses. Through the field research and literary materials, the basic types of primitive houses of the five ethnic minorities could be identified. Among these types, those that have possible relationship with Korean houses, are cone shaped house, underground house, and elevated wooden house. Archeological evidences of underground houses were amply found in Korea already, but above ground evidences could not be found. However, It seems quite certain that the cone shaped houses and elevated wooden houses, too, existed in Korea as one of the earliest housing types, as can be examined in remaining examples in Korean peninsula. With no doubt, the primitive houses of Korea have strong connection with that of the ethnic minorities of northeastern China. This can be verified through the facts that the evidences of cone shaped houses, the similarities of the use of Inner space, the evidences of elevated wooden houses. Also, the combination of wooden floor and ondol, which is known to be one of the strongest characteristic of Korean traditional houses, could be originated from the combination of primitive summer house, the elevated wooden house, and the winter house, the underground house with ondol.

• 김성우 (연세대학교 건축공학과) | 김성우