Collection
/
Asian Art

Mountain Spirit (Sanshin)

19th century

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Caption

Mountain Spirit (Sanshin), 19th century. Ink and color on silk, Image: 34 x 24 1/2 in. (86.4 x 62.2 cm) Overall: 43 1/4 x 34 1/2 in. (109.9 x 87.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 84.145. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Asian Art

Title

Mountain Spirit (Sanshin)

Date

19th century

Dynasty

Joseon Dynasty

Geography

Place made: Korea

Medium

Ink and color on silk

Classification

Painting

Dimensions

Image: 34 x 24 1/2 in. (86.4 x 62.2 cm) Overall: 43 1/4 x 34 1/2 in. (109.9 x 87.6 cm)

Credit Line

Designated Purchase Fund

Accession Number

84.145

Frequent Art Questions

  • The hat paired with Mountain Spirit, wow!

    Yes. The connection is quite interesting. The hat is actually meant to resemble mountain peaks. The horsehair used to make the scholar's hat is also the same material the Mountain Spirit's hat is made of!

  • Tell me more.

    This painting features a Mountain Spirit or Sanshin, a figure from Korean Shamanism. Different Areas could have different Mountain spirits, who were associated with fertility and abundance and with protection, especially of babies.
    Korean Buddhism absorbed shamanist beliefs and practices, and so a shrine to the Mountain Spirit could often be found in a buddhist temple. Women would go to the shrine to hold vigil (in extreme cases for as many as 100 days) and pray for pregnancy, and especially a male baby.

  • What does the term "shamanist" religion refer to in a Korean context?

    Korean Shamanism was closely tied to nature. An example of a shamanist deity is the Mountain Spirit represented in this painting.
    Korean Shamanism shares roots with Chinese Taoism and was later absorbed by the Korean approach to Buddhism.
    Thanks, so interesting!

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