This is one of the new Sanshin
icons created by Horae for his
1998 exhibition. It follows
traditional but uncommon motifs,
and the result is entirely fresh.
The tiger is as surreal as any,
with that "retarded" look Horae
loved. The Sanshin is a younger
female, very rare. She wears a
white Korean han-bok instead
of Chinese royal robes; her hair is
held up with a gold pin but sports
no crown. She rides on the tiger in
the Shamanist style. She holds a
huge mature ginseng [insam] root,
not only a symbol of health and
longevity but also of "male-ness",
granting this icon a Daoist theme of
yin-yang [eum-yang] balance.
There is no Pine-tree depicted,
which breaks with historical tradition.
icons created by Horae for his
1998 exhibition. It follows
traditional but uncommon motifs,
and the result is entirely fresh.
The tiger is as surreal as any,
with that "retarded" look Horae
loved. The Sanshin is a younger
female, very rare. She wears a
white Korean han-bok instead
of Chinese royal robes; her hair is
held up with a gold pin but sports
no crown. She rides on the tiger in
the Shamanist style. She holds a
huge mature ginseng [insam] root,
not only a symbol of health and
longevity but also of "male-ness",
granting this icon a Daoist theme of
yin-yang [eum-yang] balance.
There is no Pine-tree depicted,
which breaks with historical tradition.
NEXT: An excellent article by
Lauren Deutsch, L.A.-based writer
and friend of Korea, entitled "New
Roads to the Old Spirits: Dr. Zo
Zayong's 'Old Village' Movement".
Lauren Deutsch, L.A.-based writer
and friend of Korea, entitled "New
Roads to the Old Spirits: Dr. Zo
Zayong's 'Old Village' Movement".
| More of the "New" San-shin Icons that Zo Zayong Painted Himself, based on his collection of antiques and his own ideas |
In this one, San-shin is bald
with only a "Cloud-Cap" on
the back of his head, like a
Buddhist monk or a Daoist
adept. He crouches casually,
petting his surreal tiger's
lepord-spotted head. He
holds the common white-
crane-feather fan. There is
no background at all, as if
it were a statue.
with only a "Cloud-Cap" on
the back of his head, like a
Buddhist monk or a Daoist
adept. He crouches casually,
petting his surreal tiger's
lepord-spotted head. He
holds the common white-
crane-feather fan. There is
no background at all, as if
it were a statue.
This one is actually an exact copy
of the 19th-Cen painting in the
Main Hall of the great Jik-ji-sa Temple
in Gimcheon City. Note the leaf-
mantle on the boy-dongja.
of the 19th-Cen painting in the
Main Hall of the great Jik-ji-sa Temple
in Gimcheon City. Note the leaf-
mantle on the boy-dongja.
This one has a very Daoist character: San-shin as a
comfortable retired gentleman, enjoying his devotion
to the Way of Nature and Longevity.
comfortable retired gentleman, enjoying his devotion
to the Way of Nature and Longevity.
| These are both quite unusual and Shamanic -- on the left San-shin wears a Mudang's hat, and on the right he is a miniature figure riding the tiger, like a Korean Leprachaun. |