The people of Korean ethnic group have preserved their own traditional style of architecture, eating habits, festivals, rites and games. They are famous in the world for their interest in sports and their skills in singing and dancing. Men like wrestling and playing football, while women like springboard games and playing on swings. There are many kinds of Korean dances, such as long drum dance (Chang Gu Wu), sword dance (Dao Wu), fan dance (Shan Wu) and wizard dance (Wu Wu).

Under the influence of the Han culture, the residences of the Korean people are similar to those of the Hans in some aspects. However, they have their own characteristics which meet the requirements of Korean lifestyle.

Residences

Early habitation behaviors of the Korean people living in Northeast China were recorded in the History of the Three Kingdoms, composed over 1,700 years ago: “All family members, old or young, men or women, live in the same house - a tomb-shaped adobe house with a thatch roof and overhead windows.” The Korean people formed their own architectural style about 1,000 years ago. Although different in roof shapes, building materials and indoor structures, all the houses have one thing in common: whitewashed walls. White is the favorite color of the Korean people.

Because of instability in settlements during ancient times, the Korean people used to build houses with adobe and wood; today, they still follow such a tradition. Without wings, yards or enclosing walls, Korean houses help facilitate communication among family members and neighbors.

Korean Residences of antique style

Generally speaking, a Korean house has a hip with a middle part as flat as a board and two tilted ends like cranes about to fly. It also has a huge roof characterized by whitewashed contours, flowing curves and graceful cambers, which distinguish it from a Han or Japanese house with a huge roof.

Traditional houses have lattice doors and delicate panes. Although different in length, width and shape, all the panes are graceful and well-organized, which is uncommon in Northeast Asia.

Being the same size, sliding doors and windows are similar to one another. The windows can also be used as entrances. There is a saying which states: “For the Korean people, windows are just like doors.” The panes are narrow in a vertical dimension and wide in lateral dimension; both the doors and the windows are long and narrow. As a result, the low houses seem delicate and graceful. Inside the room, there are built-in cabinets with sliding doors, which are used for keeping clothes and bedding, thus making the room spacious and tasteful.