Mountain Spirit and Tiger
ca. 1850
The Sanshin (Mountain Spirit) is one of the most important indigenous deities in Korea. He is considered a protector of Buddhist temples, many of which are located near mountains. This painting follows the traditional folk representation of the Mountain Spirit: a long-bearded man sitting against a landscape framed by pine trees and accompanied by a tiger, which was considered a sacred animal of the mountains. Donors’ names are listed on the bottom left.
Ink and color on hemp cloth mounted on Masonite
34 5/8 × 26 in. (88 × 66 cm)
Gift of Joel Heidel and Adam Heidel
96.19
Photo: National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea