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.
Artwork Details
- 作者未詳 山神圖 朝鮮
- Title: Mountain god with tiger
- Artist: Unidentified artist , Korean
- Period: Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
- Date: late 19th century
- Culture: Korea
- Medium: Framed painting; ink and color on silk
- Dimensions: Image: 33 × 39 in. (83.8 × 99.1 cm)
Framed: 37 × 49 in. (94 × 124.5 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of the children of Lea R. Sneider, 2024
- Object Number: 2024.89.2
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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