Press Releases

Cultural Heritage Administration

Apr 04,2022

The National Palace Museum of Korea Presents the “Screenof Ten Symbols of Longevity” as the Curator’s Choice for April

- A Royal Painting EmbodyingWishes for a Long and Healthy Life

to Be Presented Online / Starting April 4 -

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The National Palace Museum of Korea (Director: Kim In Kyu), an affiliateof the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, has selected the “Screen of Ten Symbols ofLongevity” as its Curator’s Choice from the Royal Treasures” for the month of April. Itwill be presented virtually in a YouTubebroadcast on the channels of the Cultural Heritage Administration and theNational Palace Museum of Korea starting April 4.

* NationalPalace Museum of Korea YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gogungmuseum

** CulturalHeritage Administration YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/chluvu


Paintings often symbols of longevity, known in Korean as sipjangsaengdo, featuredepictions of natural elements believed to represent immortality or longevity.They highlight a combination of motifs including the sun, clouds, mountains,water, rocks, pine trees, turtles, deer, cranes, peaches, and lingzhimushrooms. While the term sipjangsaengdo begins with the number ten (sip),exactly ten elements were not invariably presented. The tradition of depictingmotifs carrying auspicious meaning of eternal youth began in the Goryeo Dynastyand continued through the Joseon Dynasty. The theme was particularly preferredby the royal court.

Paintings often symbols of longevity display a harmonious composition of animals and plantsagainst a landscape background. Vivid rich colors were used to create an idealworld with a mystical atmosphere. The versions for the royal court wereproduced by court painters from the Dohwaseo (Royal Bureau of Painting), whowere considered the most skilled painters of their time. The composition andcoloring on these paintings are exceptional and clearly demonstrate the sublimebeauty and dignity sought in court paintings.

*Dohwaseo:The Joseon Dynasty government office responsible for producing paintings


Paintings often symbols of longevity were sometimes presented in the form of a foldingscreen behind important members of the royal family, such as the queen or thecrown prince, during state events. Moreover, sometimes windows or doors in theinterior spaces at the palaces would be adorned with such paintings. Thepaintings were produced to express wishes for peace for the royal court and along and healthy life for the members of the royal family.

The NationalPalace Museum of Korea announced that access to its permanent galleries will bepartially restricted during the month of April due to facility improvementwork. This month’s Curator’s Choice can be enjoyed virtually through a video with Korean andEnglish subtitles available on the museum’s website (gogung.go.kr)and on the YouTube channels of the museum and the Cultural HeritageAdministration of Korea.

 


Division: Exhibition & Publicity Division, The National Palace Museum of Korea

Contact person:Lim Kyoung-hee (02-3701-7631), Kim Jae-eun(02-3701-7633)


 


 




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