Overview
Shin Saimdang (申師任堂, 1504-1551) was one of the most prominent female artists of the Joseon Dynasty and is celebrated as a symbol of the ideal wise mother. She is also famous as the mother of the great scholar Yulgok Yi I. Excelling in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, she was called "Samjeol" (master of three arts), and is especially renowned for her Chochungdo (Insects and Plants) paintings.
Basic Information
| Birth Name | Shin In-seon (申仁善) |
|---|---|
| Art Name | Saimdang (師任堂), Imsajae (任師齋) |
| Life | 1504 - 1551 (aged 48) |
| Birthplace | Bukpyeong-chon, Gangneung, Gangwon Province |
| Clan | Pyeongsan Shin clan |
| Spouse | Yi Won-su (李元秀) |
Life
Early Years
Shin Saimdang was born in 1504 in Bukpyeong-chon, Gangneung (present-day Ojukheon). Her father Shin Myeong-hwa raised her like a son despite being a daughter, and she learned classics, poetry, and painting from an early age.
Marriage and Family
She married Yi Won-su of the Deoksu Yi clan at age 19. Unusually for the time, she resided mainly at her parents home in Gangneung where she raised her children. She had four sons and three daughters, with her third son being the famous scholar Yulgok Yi I.
Artistic Works
Chochungdo (Insects and Plants)
Her masterpieces are detailed paintings of plants and insects. They demonstrate her keen observation of nature and exceptional artistic expression, featuring eggplants, watermelons, poppies, cockscombs along with butterflies, dragonflies, and bees.
Landscape Paintings and Grape Paintings
Her landscape paintings and ink grape paintings are also highly regarded. While inheriting the style of An Gyeon, she developed her own distinctive artistic style.
Calligraphy
She excelled in both cursive and regular script, with her cursive calligraphy considered the finest of her era.
Education of Children
Shin Saimdang personally taught her children academics and arts. Particularly, Yulgok Yi I received his mothers teachings and became Joseons greatest Neo-Confucian scholar. She became revered as the ideal model of a "wise mother and good wife."
Cultural Impact
- Featured on the 50,000 won banknote (since 2009)
- Ojukheon in Gangneung: Her birthplace and birthplace of Yulgok Yi I
- Annual Shin Saimdang Cultural Festival held in Gangneung
Legacy
Shin Saimdang was a rare woman of the Joseon era whose artistic achievements were recognized. In modern times, her role as an exceptional artist is being re-evaluated alongside her traditional image.