Shin Saimdang

Hello! My name is Shin Saimdang. I was born a very long time ago, on October 29th, 1504, in a beautiful town in Korea called Gangneung. When I was a little girl, I didn't play with dolls very often. Instead, I loved to grab my paintbrush! I painted pictures of everything I saw in my garden—juicy purple grapes, tiny green insects crawling on leaves, and colorful flowers. In those days, it was unusual for girls to study art and books, but my family believed in me. They encouraged me to learn, and I was so happy they did.

When I turned 19, around the year 1522, I got married to a kind man named Yi Won-su and we started our own family. We had seven wonderful children! Being a mother was my greatest joy, and I loved taking care of them. Even though I was very busy with my children and our home, I always made time for my art. I would often paint late at night after everyone was asleep. My paintings made me happy, and I loved creating beautiful things for my family to see.

I believed that being a good mother was one of the most important jobs in the world. I taught my children how to read, write, and be kind and honest people. I especially enjoyed teaching them about art and nature, sharing the things I loved most. One of my sons, Yi I, grew up to be a very famous and wise scholar in Korea. I was so proud that he used the lessons I taught him to help many people throughout his life.

I lived to be 46 years old, passing away in the year 1551. Even though my life ended, my story and my art lived on. Today, people in Korea remember me as a great artist and a 'Wise Mother.' To honor me, they even put my portrait on their money! If you ever see a 50,000 won banknote from South Korea, you will see my face smiling back at you, reminding everyone that mothers and artists can change the world.