Korean ondol underfloor heating promotes good health

The ondol floor heating not just provided special wamth, but also promoted health in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM).

The floor nearest the furnace was the warmest area and the area nerest the chimney was cooler.

To promote circulation while sleeping on the floor, the feet would point to the warmest side and the head to the cooler side.

Traditional Korean Medicine in Korean Culture #1: Ondol and Samgyetang
https://londonkoreanlinks.net/2010/07/2 … amgyetang/

Traditional Korean Medicine in Korean Culture #1: Ondol and Samgyetang

by SENA LEE posted 29 JUL 2010 updated 27 JUL 2012
in LIFE & LEISURE. 3 minute read

Korea is a country of contrasts and contradictions, in which seeming opposites can coexist in harmony with each other: it is a developed modern country with a high standard of living while keeping traditions alive at the same time; it has world-leading technology, but it is not uncommon for people to consult a shaman for advice.

Another good example of this is traditional Korean medicine (TKM): although there is a well developed infrastructure of Western medicine, TKM still places an important role in the lives of Koreans.

- A Hanok’s (traditional Korean house) ondol system is fully in harmony with TKM

An ondol (온돌), a unique integral part of the traditional architecture in Korea, is an underfloor heating system. When we stoke the fire in the stove (agungi; 아궁이), the heat transfers to the stone (gudeuljang; 구들장) underneath the room and is disseminated throughout the whole house creating a warm cozy atmosphere. Then, the smoke exits through the chimney.

- A simplified diagram of the ondol underfloor heating system

The ondol system is based on one of the main principles in TKM, namely suseunghwagang (수승화강)2. This proposes that the upper part of the body, particularly the head, has to be cool and the lower part of the body has to be warm.

In an ondol room, there’s a winmok (윗목) and an arenmok (아랫목). The arenmok is the place which is closer to the agungi, therefore, it is hotter. The winmok is the place which is closer to the chimney, therefore, it is cooler. People direct their heads toward the winmok and put their feet toward the arenmok when they are sleeping. Also, when they sit on the floor, their hips are warm and their heads are cool. Thus, ondol makes it easier to achieve the status of suseunghwagang.