Sin Saimdang on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Shin Saimdang (; December 5, 1504 – June 20, 1551) was a
Korea
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
n artist, writer, calligraphist
Calligraphy () is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instruments. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "the art of giving form to signs in an exp ...
, and poet, who lived during the Joseon
Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...
period. She was born in Gangneung
Gangneung (; ) is a list of cities in South Korea, municipal city in Gangwon, South Korea, Gangwon province, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved Ja ...
, Gangwon Province. Her birth home, Ojukheon, which is also her maternal family's home, is well-preserved to this day. She was the mother of the Korean Confucian scholar Yi I
Yi I (; 1536–1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. Yi is often referred to by his art name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianSin Saimdang
at
at The Academy of Korean Studies'' Her real name was Shin In-seon (). Her pen names were ''Saim'' (), ''Saimdang'' (), ''Inimdang'' (), and ''Imsajae'' ().
at
Doosan Encyclopedia
''Doosan Encyclopedia'' () is a Korean-language encyclopedia published by Doosan Donga (). The encyclopedia is based on the ''Dong-A Color Encyclopedia'' (), which comprises 30 volumes and began to be published in 1982 by Dong-A Publishing (). ...
Sin Saimdangat The Academy of Korean Studies'' Her real name was Shin In-seon (). Her pen names were ''Saim'' (), ''Saimdang'' (), ''Inimdang'' (), and ''Imsajae'' ().
Biography
Childhood and education
Shin Saimdang was born and raised inGangneung
Gangneung (; ) is a list of cities in South Korea, municipal city in Gangwon, South Korea, Gangwon province, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved Ja ...
at the home of her maternal grandparents. Her father, Shin Myeong-hwa, from the Pyongsan Shin clan, was a government official and a friend of the scholar Jo Gwang-jo, but he was not politically active. Her mother was Lady Yi of the Yongin Yi clan. Lady Yi’s mother, Lady Choi of the Gangneung Choi clan The Gangneung Choi clan (Kangnung Choi, Kangnung Choe) ( is a Korean clan consisting of 510,000 people. it was the 51st-largest in South Korea. As custom dictates, the oldest son always keeps the record of the family history.
History
During th ...
(; 1459–?), was the third daughter of Choi Eung-hyeon (최응현; 1428–1507). Through his father, Choi Chi-on (), he owned Ohjukheon (the birthplace of Saimdang and Yi I). So when his daughter, Lady Choi, married Yi Sa-on (; 1462 – ?), it was passed down as an inheritance gift to him.
Through her paternal great-grandmother, Lady Shin was also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Wongyeong
Queen Wongyeong (; 6 August 1365 – 27 August 1420) of the Yeoheung Min clan, was the primary wife of King Taejong of Joseon, and the mother of Sejong the Great.
She was queen consort of Joseon from 1400, and was honored as Consort Jeong () un ...
and King Taejong through her great-great-grandmother, Princess Jeongseon. She was also a second cousins three removed of Shin Rip and a tenth cousin of Queen Inheon, the mother of King Injo.
Saimdang was the third of five daughters. Her father initially resided in Hanseong (modern-day Seoul
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
), and lived largely apart from the family for 16 years. He continued his civil examination preparation with his wife's family's assistance, and visited home several times a year. Saimdang's mother assisted his studies. However, Shin Myeong-hwa did not go beyond the ''jinsa'' test (), an elementary test for yangban
The ''yangban'' () were part of the traditional ruling class or gentry of dynastic Korea during the Joseon period. The ''yangban'' were mainly composed of highly educated civil officials and military officers—landed or unlanded aristocrats wh ...
, and gave up the ''daegwa'' test () due to the massacre of scholars in the year of Kimyo (기묘사화, 1519 CE). He later moved back to Gangneung
Gangneung (; ) is a list of cities in South Korea, municipal city in Gangwon, South Korea, Gangwon province, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved Ja ...
.
Lady Yi had continued living with her parents after her marriage, which gave her greater autonomy in how she chose to educate Saimdang and her other daughters. Saimdang's grandfather's beliefs also greatly influenced Saimdang. Her maternal grandfather, Yi Sa-on, taught her as he would have taught a grandson.
Although she was a woman, Saimdang developed an abundant knowledge of Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, which originated with Han Yu (768–824) and Li Ao (772–841) i ...
, history, and literature, which surprised her father's visitors. Saimdang and her sisters learned the Thousand Character Classic
The ''Thousand Character Classic'' (), also known as the ''Thousand Character Text'', is a Chinese poem that has been used as a primer for teaching Chinese characters to children from the sixth century onward. It contains exactly one thousand c ...
, Dongmongseonseup () and '' Mingxin baojian'' from Shin Myeong-hwa. Saimdang was especially talented, earning her father's favor. Having no brothers, she received an education that would have been bequeathed only to a son, and this background greatly influenced the way she later educated her own children.
Shin Saimdang received an education that was not common for women of that era. Besides literature and poetry, she was adept at calligraphy, embroidery, and painting. She was also gifted at writing and drawing, earning praise from Yi Suk-kwon ().
Marriage
Shin Myeong-hwa chose Commander Yi Won-su (李元秀) to become Saimdang's husband. Many people felt that this showed poor judgement, because although Yi Won-su's ancestors included '' Yeonguijeong'' (Chief State Councillor) and '' Jwauijeong'' (Left State Councillor), the family was poor. At that time, Yi Won-su was also unemployed, and his father had died. However, Shin Myeong-hwa prioritised marrying Saimdang to a man who would allow her to continue with her artwork, and Won-su had no objections to this. On August 20, 1522, the 17-year-old Saimdang married the 22-year-old Yi Won-su, and with his consent she continued to spend time at her parents' home inGangneung
Gangneung (; ) is a list of cities in South Korea, municipal city in Gangwon, South Korea, Gangwon province, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved Ja ...
. Yi Won-su's house was in Paju
Paju (; ) is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county (''gun'').
The city area of Paju is ,"Paju (Gyeonggi-do Province)." ''Naver Encyclopedi ...
, but Saimdang's father died in the same year that they got married, so she moved back and forth between the two homes in order to care for her mother. She later accompanied her husband to his official posts. She moved to several places including Hanseong and Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang ( , ; in full, ''Pyeongchang-gun'' ) is a county in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea, located in the Taebaek Mountains region. It is home to several Buddhist temples, including Woljeongsa. It is about east southeast of Seo ...
.
The couple had eight children: five boys and three girls. At the age of 33, she went back to Gangneung
Gangneung (; ) is a list of cities in South Korea, municipal city in Gangwon, South Korea, Gangwon province, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved Ja ...
to give birth to her third son, Yi I
Yi I (; 1536–1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. Yi is often referred to by his art name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianDaegwallyeong
Daegwallyeong () is a -high mountain pass in the Taebaek Mountains of eastern South Korea. It runs between Pyeongchang and Gangneung in Gangwon Province. It is an important historical pass that connects the regions of Yeongseo and Yeongdon ...
and looked back at a village she had just passed. She expressed her love for her mother through a new poem. Aged 38, she managed a new house in Hanseong and lived with her mother.
In this era, obedience was considered an important mark of a good wife, but Saimdang did not listen to her husband Yi Won-su easily. Promising 10 years of separation for his study, she sent her husband to a good mountain. When he came back yearning for his wife, she reprimanded him, threatening to cut off her hair if he didn't study hard. In spite of her efforts, Yi Won-su quit studying after 3 years.
Conflict with her husband
She noticed that her husband, Yi Won-su, loved a kisaeng named Kwon. When Yi Won-su began living with Kwon, Saimdang strongly disapproved of it and the couple's relationship cooled. Shin Saimdang, who foresaw her death, asked her husband not to marry another woman after she died. Yi Won-su argued thatConfucius
Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
, Zengzi
Zeng Shen (505–435 BC), better known as Zengzi (Master Zeng), courtesy name Ziyu (), was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius. He later taught Zisi (Kong Ji), the grandson of Confucius, who was in turn the teacher of Mencius, thus ...
, and Zhou Dunyi
Zhou Dunyi (; 1017–1073) was a Chinese cosmologist, philosopher, and writer during the Song dynasty. He conceptualized the Neo-Confucianism, Neo-Confucian cosmology of the day, explaining the relationship between human conduct and universal ...
had broken their marriages, but Shin Saimdang contradicted him by telling him that none of those people had remarried. Kwon was considered to be a rash girl who acted unpredictably, the opposite of Shin Saimdang, and it was also said that she was the same age as her eldest son, Yi Seon. When Shin Saimdang discovered the presence of Kwon, she once again asked her husband not to invite Kwon to their home. Quoting the Confucian scriptures, she tried to convince him not to marry Kwon, and to promise not to bring her into their home. Yi Won-su and Shin Saimdang's bad relationship also affected their children. Since his parents' marital relations were not good, Yi I
Yi I (; 1536–1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. Yi is often referred to by his art name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianYi I
Yi I (; 1536–1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. Yi is often referred to by his art name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianPyongan region, on May 17, 1551, at the age of 46. As a result of her death, her son Yi I wandered about with questions about the cause of life and death.
After her death, Yi Won-su didn't marry Kwon, but broke his wife's promise by bringing her to live with him and his children, causing conflict with Yi I. Unlike Shin Saimdang who was a gentle and caring mother, Kwon liked to drink. Shin Saimdang's children suffered because of Kwon, and
Yi I
Yi I (; 1536–1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. Yi is often referred to by his art name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianQueen Munjeong
Queen Munjeong (; 12 December 1501 – 15 May 1565), of the Papyeong Yun clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the third wife and queen consort of Jungjong of Joseon, Yi Yeok, King Jungjong. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1517 until he ...
, Jeong Nan-jeong
Jeong Nan-jeong (; 1509 – November 13, 1565) was a Korean de facto politician of the Joseon period.
Biography
Lady Jeong was born in Seoul, Hanseong into the Chogye Jeong clan to Jeong Yun-gyeom, a deputy general, and his concubine, Lady Na ...
, and Hwang Jin-yi, Shin Saimdang is considered one of the most significant women to live during this period of Korean history.
Works
InJoseon
Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...
, women were discouraged from broadcasting their gifts and talents to the world after marriage. However, Saimdang was able to develop her talents in part because she had no brothers, so she was able to live at her home instead of her husband's, and because her father sought to select a son-in-law who would let Saimdang develop her skills as much as possible.
Shin Saimdang's artwork is known for its delicate beauty; insects, flowers, butterflies, orchids, grapes, fish, and landscapes were some of her favorite themes. Approximately 40 paintings of ink and stonepaint colors remain, although it is believed that many others exist.
Unfortunately, not much of her calligraphy remains, but her style was greatly praised in her time, with high-ranking officials and connoisseurs writing records of her work. The scholar Eo Suk-kwon of Myeongjong mentioned in his book ''Paegwan Japgi'' (패관잡기, 稗官雜記; "The Storyteller's Miscellany") that Saimdang's paintings of grapes and landscapes compared to those of the notable artist Ahn Gyeon. In 1868, upon admiring the work of Saimdang, the governor of Gangneung
Gangneung (; ) is a list of cities in South Korea, municipal city in Gangwon, South Korea, Gangwon province, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved Ja ...
remarked that "Saimdang's calligraphy is thoughtfully written, with nobility and elegance, serenity and purity, filled with the lady's virtue".
Her children also possessed artistic talent. For example, Yi U was so talented in the art that there is an anecdote that "He drew insects using muk, and then the chickens were chasing after it since it looked like real insects." Yi U was also talented in poetry. His brother Yi I
Yi I (; 1536–1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. Yi is often referred to by his art name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). He was also a politician
File:Shin.Saimdang-Chochungdo-01.jpg, '' Chochungdo'', a painting genre initiated by Shin Saimdang, depicting plants and insects.(chochungdo)
File:Shin.Saimdang-Chochungdo-02.jpg, '' Chochungdo''
File:Shin.Saimdang-Chochungdo-03.jpg, '' Chochungdo''
Shin Saimdang is the first woman to appear on a South Korean banknote. The Bank of Korea (BOK; ) first issued the 50,000 won note in June 2009. The design of the 50,000 won was released on February 25, 2009. A portrait of Shin Saimdang and her drawings, ''Mokpo Grapes'' () and ''Chochungdosubyeong'' (, the National Treasure No. 595) were illustrated on the front. Paintings (''wolmaedo'' and ''pungjugdo'') were illustrated on the back side. Unlike other bills, the illustrations on the back of this bill were illustrated vertically. On May 5, The
Poetry
*''Looking Back at my Parents' Home while Going Over Daegwallyeong Pass'' () – Poem written while leaving her parents' house, grief-stricken from leaving her mother alone. *''Thinking of Parents'' () – A poem about filial devotion to her mother.Paintings
*''Landscape'' () *''Mountains and rivers'' () *''Grass and insect painting'' () *''Geese among reeds'' ()Legacy
Shin Saimdang is the first woman to appear on a South Korean banknote. The Bank of Korea (BOK; ) first issued the 50,000 won note in June 2009. The design of the 50,000 won was released on February 25, 2009. A portrait of Shin Saimdang and her drawings, ''Mokpo Grapes'' () and ''Chochungdosubyeong'' (, the National Treasure No. 595) were illustrated on the front. Paintings (''wolmaedo'' and ''pungjugdo'') were illustrated on the back side. Unlike other bills, the illustrations on the back of this bill were illustrated vertically. On May 5, The Bank of Korea
The Bank of Korea (BOK; ) is the central bank of South Korea and issuer of South Korean won. It was established on 12 June 1950 in Seoul, South Korea.
The bank's primary purpose is price stability. For that, the bank inflation targeting, targ ...
announced that they selected Shin Saimdang as the main character of 50,000 won because she is "a representative female artist in the middle of the Joseon period" and "a person who has accomplished a remarkable achievement in gifted education by fulfilling her wife role". The reason for the selection is that it is expected to contribute to raising awareness of gender equality in Korean society and to raise the importance of education and family. (Other candidate characters of 50,000 won were Kim Ku
Kim Ku (; August 29, 1876 – June 26, 1949), also known by his art name Paekpŏm, was a Korean independence activist and statesman. He was a leader of the Korean independence movement against the Empire of Japan, head of the Provisional Gove ...
, Gwanggaeto the Great
Gwanggaeto the Great (374–412, r. 391–412) was the nineteenth monarch of Goguryeo. His full posthumous name means "Entombed in ''Gukgangsang'', Broad Expander of Domain, Peacemaker, Supreme King", sometimes abbreviated to ''Hotaewang'' ...
, Ahn Chang-ho, Jang Yeong-sil, and Ryu Gwan-sun).
Feminist critics, however, have criticized this selection as reinforcing sexist stereotypes about women's roles.
Family
* Father ** Shin Myeong-hwa (; 1476–1522) * Mother ** Lady Yi of the Yongin Yi clan (; 1480 – ?) * Sibling(s) ** Older sister - Lady Shin of the Pyongsan Shin clan (; 1497 – ?); Yi Ju-nam’s first wife ** Older sister - Lady Shin of the Pyongsan Shin clan (; 1502 – ?) ** Younger sister - Lady Shin of the Pyongsan Shin clan (; 1508 – ?) ** Younger sister - Lady Shin of the Pyongsan Shin clan (; 1511 – ?) * Husband ** Yi Won-su () of the Deoksu Yi clan (; 1500 – 14 May 1561) * Issue ** Son - Yi Seon (; 1524 – ?) ** Daughter - Yi Mae-chang (), Lady Yi of the Deoksu Yi clan (; 1529 – ?) ** Son - Yi Beon (; 1531–1590) ** Son -Yi I
Yi I (; 1536–1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. Yi is often referred to by his art name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianKo Eun-ah in the 1978 film ''Scholar Yul-gok and His Mother Shin Saimdang.''
* Portrayed by Kim Ye-ryeong and Jeong In-sun in the 2003 EBS TV series ''Yeoksa Theater.''
* Portrayed by Kim Ye-ryeong in the 2005 EBS TV series ''Jump.''
* Portrayed by Lee Young-ae and Park Hye-su in the 2017 SBS TV series ''
Saimdang, Memoir of Colors
''Saimdang, Memoir of Colors'' () is a South Korean drama starring Lee Young-ae in the title role as Shin Saimdang, a famous Joseon-era artist and calligrapher who lived in the early 16th century. It aired on SBS every Wednesday and Thursday a ...
''.
See also
*Good Wife, Wise Mother
"Good Wife, Wise Mother" is a phrase representing a traditional ideal for womanhood in East Asia, including Japan, China and Korea. First appearing in the late 1800s, the four-character phrase "Good Wife, Wise Mother" (also ) was coined by Nakam ...
* History of Korea
The Lower Paleolithic era on the Korean Peninsula and in Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago.
Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825.
The earl ...
* Korean painting
Korean painting () includes paintings made in Korea or by overseas Koreans on all surfaces. The earliest surviving Korean paintings are murals in the Goguryeo tombs, of which considerable numbers survive, the oldest from some 2,000 years ago (mo ...
Notes
References
Further reading
* Kim-Renand, Young-Key. ''Creative Women of Korea: the Fifteenth Through the Twentieth Centuries.'' M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 2004. {{DEFAULTSORT:Shin, Saimdang Korean Confucianism 16th-century Korean calligraphers 1504 births 1551 deaths 16th-century Korean poets 16th-century Korean women writers People from Gangneung Korean women poets Women calligraphers 16th-century Korean painters Pyongsan Shin clan 16th-century pseudonymous writers Pseudonymous women writers 16th-century women artists