Why did Tap'o buildings look more decorative than Chusimp'o buildings?

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The tap’o style (multibracket) buildings appear more decorative than those in the chusimp’o style primarily because of their structural design.12

While the chusimp’o style features bracket complexes placed only on top of columns, the tap’o style incorporates intercolumnar brackets—brackets positioned in the spaces between the columns. These additional brackets fill the otherwise empty areas between the columns, creating a more ornate and visually dense appearance.123

Furthermore, tap’o buildings often feature coffered ceilings that conceal structural elements like girder beams and eaves purlins, whereas chusimp’o buildings leave these components exposed. By the 17th century, the tap’o style had largely replaced the traditional chusimp’o style as the prevailing architectural method in Korea.13