Gidan (architectural style)

The main purposes of making a Gidan are as follows:

• To receive the load of the building transmitted from each cornerstone and evenly transmit it to the ground^[2]
• To protect the building from rainwater and groundwater^[2]
• To make the building appear taller than the site, giving it a sense of grandeur and dignity^[2]

Gidan has been distinctly constructed since the Three Kingdoms of Korea. It became one of the most basic components of Korean architecture until the Joseon.^[2]

Most buildings in Korea, including houses, temples, and palaces, are built on a single-story foundation, while the main halls of palaces are built on a multi-story foundation. Geunjeongjeon, Injeongjeon, and Myeongjeongjeon were built on two stories wider than the floor of the building, and then another story was built around the floor of the building.^[2]