Shin Saimdang

Shin Saimdang
Hangul	신사임당
Hanja	申師任堂
Revised Romanization	Sin Saimdang
McCune–Reischauer	Sin Saimdang
Courtesy name
Hangul	인선
Hanja	仁善
Revised Romanization	Yinsun
McCune–Reischauer	Inseon

Shin Saimdang (신사임당, October 29, 1504 – May 17, 1551) was a Korean artist, writer, calligraphist, noted poet, and the mother of the Korean Confucian scholar Yulgok. Often held up as a model of Confucian ideals, her respectful nickname was Eojin Eomeoni (어진 어머니; "Wise Mother"). a penname was Saimdang and Inimdang, Imsajae.

Life

Shin Saimdang was born and raised in Gangneung at the home of her maternal grandparents. Her father, Shin Myeonggwa (申命과) was a government official but did not actively join politics. Her mother was Lady Lee, the daughter of Lee Sa-on (이사온). Shin had four younger sisters. Her maternal grandfather taught his granddaughter as he would do a grandson, and being raised in that atmosphere, Shin Saimdang received an education that was not common in that period. Besides literature and poetry, she was adept at calligraphy, embroidery and painting.

As she was raised in a son-less household, she spent much time at her parents' house even after her marriage to Commander Yi Won-su (이원수) at the age of 19, with her husband's consent. She accompanied her husband to his official posts in Seoul and rural towns, gave birth to Yi I in Gangneung, but suddenly died after moving to the Pyongan region at the age of 48.

Saimdang was able to cultivate her talents thanks to an unconventional household and understanding husband, in a rigid Confucian society. Having had no brothers, she received an education that would have only been bequeathed to a son, and this background greatly influenced the way she educated her children.

Works

Shin Saimdang's artwork is known for their delicate beauty; insects, flowers, butterflies, orchids, grapes, fish and landscapes were favorite themes. Approximately 40 paintings of ink and stonepaint colors remain, although many others are assumed to exist.

Unfortunately, not much of her calligraphy is left but her style was greatly praised in her time, with high ranking officials and connoisseurs writing records of her work. The scholar Eo Sukgwon, at the time of Myeongjong, mentioned in his book Paegwan Japgi (hangul:패관잡기, hanja: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. Far later, in 1868, the governor of Gangneung remarked upon seeing Saimdang's work that "Saimdang's calligraphy is thoughtfully written, with nobility and elegance, serenity and purity, filled with the lady's virtue".

Poetry

• Looking Back at my Parents' Home while Going Over Daegwallyeong Pass(hangul:유대관령망친정, hanja:踰大關嶺望親庭) - Poem written while leaving her parents' house, grief stricken from leaving her mother alone.
• Thinking of Parents (hangul:사친,hanja:思親) - A poem about filial devotion to her mother.

Paintings

• Landscape (hangul:자리도, hanja:紫鯉圖)
• Mountains and rivers (hangul:산수도, hanja:山水圖)
• Grass and insect painting(hangul:초충도, hanja:草蟲圖)
• Geese among reeds (hangul:노안도, hanja:蘆雁圖)

• 
  Chochungdo, a painting genre initiated by Shin Saimdang, depicting plants and insects
• 
  Chochungdo
• 
  Chochungdo

In modern culture

50,000 KRW note

Shin Saimdang is the first woman to appear on a South Korean banknote, the 50,000 won note, first issued in June 2009. Feminist critics, however, have criticized her selection as reinforcing sexist stereotypes about women's roles.

See also

• Yi I
• Good wife, wise mother
• List of Korea-related topics
• History of Korea
• Korean painting

External links

• Ojukheon & Gangneung Municipal Museum
• Shin Saimdang:Navercast
• 여성계 "신사임당 5만원권 인물 선정 유감" 연합뉴스 2007년 11월 05일자 Template:Ko
• [엽기인물 한국사]6.신사임당의 남편 이원수가 아니라, 이원수의 아내 신사임당이다.① 스포츠 경향 2007년 09월 18일자 Template:Ko
• <고액권 인물②> 신사임당(申師任堂) 뉴시스 2007년 11월 05일자 Template:Ko
• 여성계 "5만원권 신사임당 안돼"..반발 확산 연합뉴스 2007년 11월 07일자 Template:Ko