Shin Saimdang

Hello, my name is Shin Saimdang. I would like to tell you my story. I was born a very long time ago, on October 29th, 1504, in a beautiful town called Gangneung in Korea. In those days, girls usually went to live with their husband’s family, but my childhood was a little different. I grew up in my mother’s family home, which was not very common. My grandfather was a wonderful man who believed that girls should learn just as much as boys. He encouraged me to read books and study, which I loved. But my greatest passion was art. I spent hours and hours with my paintbrush, carefully studying the world around me. My favorite things to paint were the small wonders of nature. I would watch a tiny insect crawl along a leaf or admire the delicate petals of a flower, and then I would try to capture its beauty on paper. My grandfather’s encouragement helped me become the artist I was meant to be.

When I was nineteen years old, in the year 1522, I married a kind man named Yi Won-su. Even after we were married, I continued to live at my family home for some time. This was unusual, but it allowed me to stay close to the people and the nature that inspired my art so much. In time, my husband and I started our own family, and I became a mother to seven children. Life was very busy. Being a mother and a wife took up most of my days, and I had many duties to take care of around the house. However, I never gave up my passion for painting. I found quiet moments for my art, often staying up late at night when the house was finally still. With a candle lighting my workspace, I would mix my colors and bring my paintings to life. It was important for me to be a good mother and wife, but it was also important for me to be an artist.

I believed that education was very important, so I took on the role of being my children's first teacher. I taught them to read, write, and appreciate the world. In 1536, my third son, Yi I, was born. Even when he was very young, I could tell he had a special and clever mind. I encouraged his love of learning, and I felt so proud as I watched him grow. He would later become one of the most famous and respected scholars in all of Korean history, known by the name Yulgok. While my son was becoming famous for his wisdom, my art was also gaining attention. My paintings of plants and insects, especially a series called 'Chochungdo,' became well-known. People admired them for their beautiful colors and how detailed and realistic they were. It made me happy to know that my son was celebrated for his mind, and I was celebrated for my art.

My life was full of family, learning, and art, but it came to an end on May 17th, 1551. I lived to be 46 years old. For a long time after I was gone, many people knew me only as the mother of the great scholar, Yulgok. But over the centuries, people began to celebrate me for my own achievements as an artist. Today, I am remembered not just as a mother, but as one of Korea's most talented painters. As a special honor, my portrait was chosen to be on South Korea's 50,000 won banknote. It is a wonderful feeling to know that my art and my story continue to inspire people so many years later.