Songcheom Jongtaek House, Yangdong Village

Songcheom Jongtaek House in Gyeongju's Yangdong Village is the head house of the Gyeongju Son clan, built in 1484, the 15th year of King Seongjong's reign, by Son So (1433-1484), pen name Yangmingong, the clan's founding ancestor in this village.

It's also the birthplace of Son So's son, the scholar Son Jung-don, and his grandson through a daughter, Yi Eon-jeok (1491-1553), pen name Hoejae — a leading Neo-Confucian scholar of Joseon also honored at Oksan Seowon. The fact that this house is his birthplace alone gives it particular historical weight. Inside a single-row gate quarters stands a square-shaped main hall, with a spirit gate and shrine set on higher ground behind the men's quarters. The main hall is distinctive for a roof whose side profile forms the shape of the Chinese character for "eight."