The 2nd Exhibition Room (Forest Culture Hall)
The 2nd exhibition room is based on two themes, history and the use of wood. In the introduction part, various seeds are displayed based on the concept of “Seeds, which is the origin of the forest and humans”. In the “history” section, various displays related to forests from ancient times to the present are shown and in the “use of wood” part, the use of wood and traditional wood processing are available to be viewed by visitors.
Forest History
Trees, forests and forest management from ancient times to the present are shown chronologically.
From Ancient times to Unified Silla
Forest policy, wooden building, representing forest and forest culture are on exhibition in time order including wooden shovels, wagon wheels which are excavated relics from a Neolithic Age site.
The Goryeo Era
Explanation on wooden buildings by each wood’s characteristics and forest policy of the Goryeo Government are presented in the room.
A replica of Palmadaejanggyeong (Tripitaka Koreana), a huge collection of Buddhist scriptures, which was made to seek divine assistance when combating with Mongolian invaders is on display.
The Joseon Era
The model of Ondol (Korean underfloor heating System) to explain the relation between forests and ondol, and the replica of Soswaewon, one of the three gardens that represent Korean traditional gardens are on display as well. At the time of the Joseon Dynasty, forest protection and system made much progress. Visitors can give a glimpse into the people lived in the Joseon Dynasty and lawsuits on wood logging. Especially a kiosk for searching Korean pine tree is installed which visitors can search various information on pine trees.
Japanese Colonial Era
The damage to the forest during the Japanese colonial era, the historical documents related to the wood logging in the Mount Baekdu as well as the Yalu River are on display. The information on the Sapsal dog and Baekdu tigers which disappeared during the era are presented in the room.
Restoration of Sovereignty
“Global forestation technology made the land green” was a slogan from 1950s which was the time of renovation. The display explains 1st and 2nd Forestry Conservation Projects, the world-renowned unique afforestation schemes, which yielded successful outcomes after World War II, and the trees planted by the presidents of Korea.
Manufacturing and the Use of Timber
Everyone can easily understand the nature, characteristics and processing of timber by the displays of traditional lumbering, transportation, processing, the use of timber and forest by-products.
Quality of Timber
Conifers are composed of a tracheid while broadleaf trees consist of vessel and wood fiber. The quality of timber depends on its cut end, water quantity and fiber bearings.
Characteristics of Timber
Timber is used for various purposes by species of trees for construction, engineering works Korean traditional furniture, western furniture, stationery, carving material, western musical instrument, Korean traditional musical instrument, pulpwood, sporting equipment, tool pouches, packing boxe and cultivating mushrooms. Tennis rackets and baseball bats are made of ash trees, other musical instruments come from spruce and mono maple trees.
Manufacturing and the Use of Timber
Traditionally, timber was widely used for everyday life and construction. Board cutting, tub plugging, joint alignment, shipbuilding are a few examples as to utilizing timber and now its tradition still alive today, forming a basis for Korean wood processing.
Traditional Wooden Furniture
Korean traditional wooden furniture is classified by wardrobes, chests and trunks. Because of the unique colors and patterns, persimmon and zelkova trees were widely used in wooden furniture. Also furniture was made without using any nails but by jointing alignment, wooden materials representing each techniques are on display.
Wood and Sound (Instrument)
Visitors can witness three types of wooden musical instruments. Stringed instruments produce sound by plucking the strings on wooden instruments. Also, woodwind instruments such as bamboo instruments with holes, players blow air into the holes to resonate sound. As for percussion instrument, beaters have to strike instruments to generate sound. By viewing the exhibition, visitors may find it easy to understand the principle of making sound in the instruments.
Wooden Product Processing
Traditionally timber has been utilized as to making household items and construction materials based on unique properties of each wood. Traditional board cutting, tub plugging, joint alignment, shipbuilding techniques form the basis for modern wood processing technology even today.
Gwigongpo
It is a structure to transmit the weight of roof proportionally to pillars. It is commonly found in the Korean royal palaces and Buddhist temples and has architectural beauty of pillars and eaves.
Traditional Korean House
A replica of a Korean traditional house is on display. Korean houses are built with pillars, rafters, ridges, and thin woven woods, mixed mud and straw with water, and roof tiles. Mud was For the walls, plastering mud on the fixed woven woods was used. This exhibition allows you to witness the structure and building process of Hanok. Also, various wooden furniture is on display including a three-story wardrobe, a three-story dish table, a two-story storied trunk.
Bamboo Work (By-Product)
Bush clover and willow with thin stems growing in the mountain were traditionally used to make baskets for household items. Also, bamboo was widely used for producing musical instruments and household items. Big baskets, Korean hats made of bamboo, bamboo flutes, a Dutch Wife, and folding fans were commonly used in old times.
Natural Dyeing
In this exhibition, it gives an explanation of how natural dyes are extracted from natural sources such as fruit, leaves, bark and roots. Raw materials and dyed fabrics are also shown here.
Lacquering and Yellow Lacquering
Resin extracted from poison ivy and Korean dendropanax is used as a natural dye. The film of the lacquered surface is not only hard and glossy but also adhesive and water-resistant, regarded as a high class varnish. This traditional varnish abstracted from Korean dendropanax not only expresses various colors of gold but also absorbs harmful electric wave.
