Even after human beings are long gone, trees remain in their place and grow with the passage of time. Our ancestors used these trees steeped in time to build houses, make fires and cook food, eventually returning to the earth in wooden coffins with trees planted at their graveside. As such, it is not an exaggeration to claim that trees are truly deep-rooted in the lives of the Korean people, from the crib to the grave. The artisans who imbue human meaning to these trees are referred to as daemokjang, tasked with building architectural structures such as palaces, Buddhist temples and houses, and somokjang, tasked with crafting indoor furniture such as closets, wardrobes, stationery chests and tables. A trained somokjang is able to properly understand the properties of wood and use it for essential purposes without creating waste. It is the duty of a somokjang to converse with silent lumber and bring the silent lumber to life.

Yang then began working at a company specializing in building hanok (traditional Korean houses), where he crafted seokkarae (wooden rafters that support the roof in hanok) for a daily wage of 40,000 won. Wishing to delve deeper into the art of traditional woodcraft techniques, he completed a wood furniture making course at the Korea Traditional Craft and Architecture School in 2003 and eventually became an apprentice under master somokjang Park Myung-bae, whom he met at the school.

 

“My teacher was a great source of strength in my life after I chose to become a carpenter. I could never fully express my gratitude and the value of his teachings.”

 

With the guidance of his teacher, who became a light in Yang’s late beginnings as a carpenter, Yang learned and mastered the craft until he became a qualified practitioner of somokjang, National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 55, in June 2013.

Human beings have only one life to live, but trees lead two lives. Trees lay down roots in one place, grow branches and leaves, then once their lives are spent, their second lives begin at the hands of a human being. And it is the hands of craftsman Yang Seog-joong that determine the second lives of these trees. Above all, woodcraft is an art that is centered around the technique of a skilled craftsman and completed through deep self-reflection. In this regard, the completion of woodcraft designs can be said to depend on the hands and experience of a veteran artisan. Having begun at a later age than others, Yang made diligent efforts to create refined craftworks using sophisticated crafting techniques and making the most of the natural grain of the wood, eventually earning the honor of being awarded prizes at numerous art contests in Korea and abroad, starting with the Presidential Award at the 2013 Korea Annual Traditional Handicraft Art Exhibition. Notable items among his works include a wine rack that is a reinterpretation of the traditional four-shelf cabinet beloved by Joseon-era nobility, and items of furniture designed to be suited to the standing lifestyle that aptly combine Eastern and Western sensibilities. As a result, Yang’s works are praised for “aptly demonstrating the beauty and value of traditional crafts by incorporating traditional yet sleek lines.”

“I draw many of the inspirations for my works from my wife.”

 

Yang’s wife, Lee Yun-jeong, was a firm pillar who quietly supported and encouraged her husband’s second life as a craftsman.

 

“We had recently had our third child when my husband told me that he wanted to quit his job and become a carpenter. I thought that I might lose my husband if I told him to keep working at his company for the sake of our livelihood. Nonetheless, I had faith that my husband would never let our family starve at the very least. I think it was this faith that allowed me to support him until now.”

 

It seems that the warm support and faith of his wife allowed Yang’s works to shine all the more brightly.

Yang travels around the country in search of good wood. In order to be useful for furniture-making, trees must be felled between Hangawi (Korean Thanksgiving Day) in the middle of the eighth month on the lunar calendar and a month before the start of spring. This is because all trees begin to absorb moisture from the roots and distribute it towards the stem and branches from a month before the beginning of spring. Although the spread of moisture through the tree is a positive phenomenon that should be praised as it allows leaves to sprout and flowers to bloom, it also renders the wood unsuitable for lumber.

 

“Trees cut down in the spring or summer aren’t suitable for lumber, since they are difficult to dry and susceptible to moths.”

 

As moisture begins to descend down to the roots again after Hangawi, late autumn and winter are more suitable season to fell trees. This is because the wood will be less warped. However, one exception is dead trees high up in the mountains, which provide quality lumber regardless of the season since they died by drying out naturally. The coming of typhoons Lingling and Tapah in 2019 caused alarm across the nation and blew over a number of old-growth giant trees, which were vulnerable to the wind. Though they appeared healthy on the outside, these trees were rotten on the inside and succumbed to the gale winds like brittle bones. The 500-year-old zelkova tree that had been an iconic part of Ganghwado’s Yeonmijeong Pavilion (Incheon Metropolitan City Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 24) also fell helplessly, saddening many who had long admired its beauty. It was a small relief that the tree fell without damaging Yeonmijeong Pavilion, regarding which many local residents praised the old zelkova for its selfless sacrifice.

 

“I offered to volunteer my talent to build a Ganghwa chest in commemoration of the fallen zelkova tree’s commendable sacrifice. At first, the Ganghwa County Office and the landowner weren’t aware of wood waste treatment guidelines, which made me a little nervous at first.”

 

Realizing the human link to the death of the dignified zelkova tree, Yang came into the spotlight by using his meticulous craftsmanship to reclaim the 500-year-old zelkova tree in recreating the Ganghwa chest, which was used by the royal household in the Joseon Dynasty.