Mountain god with tiger
Composing 70 percent of the Korean peninsula’s topography, mountains have been revered since the earliest times. A sanshin, or mountain god, usually appears in the guise of an old man with a white beard accompanied by a tiger. In this painting, the sanshin is an elegant, regal figure in voluminous, deep-red robes wearing a crown-like hat. He sits facing forward with an imperious gaze. The sanshin and tiger inhabit an auspicious blue and green landscape with a pine tree, a symbol of longevity and integrity. These spirits were later incorporated into the Buddhist pantheon. Based on its large size and fine execution, this painting was likely once in a shrine in a Buddhist temple complex. It demonstrates the fusion of indigenous shamanistic beliefs and Buddhism.
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