A Study on Neamok-dori of Dapo-style architecture

(Abstract)
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of Neamok-dori(內目道里, inner purlin of bracket) in Dapo(多包)-style architecture by analyzing the appearance of Neamok-dori in Dapo-style architecture and its supporting methods, and changes in the purlin arrangement in eaves. Neamok-dori was used to achieve internal and external balance of brackets in Dapo-style architecture, which contains brackets not supported by beams. The use of Neamok-dori increased the distance from the Jusim-dori(柱心道里, purlin on the column) to the Jung-dori(中道里, mid-purlin), and this acted as a factor allowing the Oemok-dori(外目道里, outer purlin of bracket) to expand outwards, thereby contributing to the formation of long eaves.

Buildings with Neamok-dori that still exist today can be traced back to as early as the 10th century in China and the 14th century in the Korean Peninsula. However, many relics and artifacts indicate that Neamok-dori was used earlier. In China, the introduction of the Ha-ang(下昻, descending cantilever) structure, which by itself helped to achieve internal and external balance of brackets, reduced the use of Neamok-dori. In the Korean Peninsula, Neamok-dori became more widespread with the independently creative development of Dapo-style architecture.
There was a tendency for Jusim-dori to be omitted due to the short distance between purlin in the eaves until the 16th century in the Korean Peninsula. Until the late Joseon dynasty, as the distance among Oemok-dori, Jusim-dori, and Naemok-dori increased, the the structural role of each Dori became more significant, which resulted in reducing the omission of purlin. The higher number of protruding elements and protruding distance led to a higher vertical position of Neamok-dori, placing more importance on horizontal and vertical support. Due to the higher vertical position of Neamok-dori, various supporting members and methods emerged to maintain vertical and horizontal support. Banja (班子, ceiling) not only covered overhead elements and decorated the interior, but also connected Neamok-dori rows and Jung-dori rows for greater positional stability of Neamok-dori.

The protrusion of Oemok-dori increased until the early 18th century, while that of Neamok-dori increased continuously until the end of Joseon dynasty in 1910. The supporting structure was strengthened with the continuous increase in the vertical position of Neamok-dori, creating more space for ornaments. This is consistent with the exterior changes and trend of ornamentation that are characteristic of Korean traditional architecture in the late Joseon dynasty.
Neamok-dori influenced various elements such as the Oemok-distance (distance from outer purlin to purlin on the columns), inter-bracket distance of corner brackets, distance to Jung-dori, vertical and horizontal supporting members and supporting structures, Banja, and interior ornaments, and vice versa. From an examination of Neamok-dori, this study showed that a single architectural element in post-and-lintel Korean traditional architecture is closely related to surrounding elements.


Keywords : Oemok-dorii(外目道里, outer purlin of bracket), Jusim-dori(柱心道里, purlin on the columns), Neamok-dori(內目道里, inner purlin of bracket), Supporting system of neamok-dori, Changes of neamok-dori, Dapo(多包)style - architecture, Korean traditional architecture.