Mountain spirit and tiger
1800-1900
Asian Art Museum
San Francisco, United States
A tiger is curled up against an old man with a fan. This pair typically represents the god who governs mountains in Korea. In folk myths during the pre-modern era of Korea, the tiger was venerated as a rider, messenger, or some other image of the mountain god, and was believed to safeguard surrounding villages. The man, with his protruded forehead and long fingernails, follows the visual tradition of Daoist immortals, while the tiger follows traditional images of folk art, in which tigers are portrayed freely and humorously. Paintings like this one would be hung at an independent shrine dedicated to the mountain spirit or a small sanctuary in a Buddhist monastery.
- Title: Mountain spirit and tiger
- Date Created: 1800-1900
- Location Created: Korea
- Physical Dimensions: H. 49 1/4 in x W. 29 1/4 in, H. 125.1 cm x W. 74.3 cm (image); H. 88 7/8 in x W. 35 1/4 in, H. 225.7 cm x W. 89.5.2 cm (overall)
- Rights: Public Domain
- Medium: Ink and colors on paper
- Credit Line: Asian Art Museum, Acquisition made possible by Dr. and Mrs. David Buchanan, with the assistance of The Honorable Joseph P. Carroll and Roberta Carroll, M.D., 2000.8
Get the app
Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more
