By Honorary Reporter Minnath Azeez from Sri Lanka
Photos = Korean Embassy in Norway, National Museum of Korea, Korea.net DB

2022 is the Year of the Black Tiger under the Asian zodiac. In Korean culture, the tiger symbolizes power and strength as it has long been considered a guardian. Those born in this year are said to be courageous, bold and confident like the feline. 

The Korean Peninsula is said to resemble a tiger. (Korean Embassy in Norway)

Korea is known as the land of tigers because the Korean Peninsula is said to resemble the animal. The Dangun myth of the foundation of Korea's first nation said the tiger vied with a bear to transform into a human, but gave up midway. Though the bear in the myth turns into a woman and gives birth to Dangun, the mythical founder of Korea, the tiger has remained an important motif in Korean culture throughout millennia. Folk tales and records about tigers abound throughout the nation's history.

The painting "Mountain Spirit (Sanshin) with Tiger Avatar" exemplifies the tiger's prominent role in Korean history. (National Museum of Korea)

Many historical paintings such as minhwa (folk art) also include images of the tiger as a creature that drives away evil spirits. The animal has been worshipped as sansin (mountain god) in Korean Buddhism, and paintings of the tiger called sehwa were hung on doors in the new year as a tradition.

Jakhodo is a type of painting depicting a tiger and a magpie. (National Museum of Korea)

Paintings of a tiger and a magpie called jakhodo, a subgenre of minhwa, were also hung during the first month of the lunar calendar to ward off evil spirits. 

More specifically, this is the Year of the Black Water Tiger (Imin), and the Asian zodiac also has a Year of the White Tiger that comes every 60 years.

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.