Ship-jangsaeng
the Twelve "Ten Symbols of Longevity"
widely used in Korea's traditional Paintings
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There are several other manifestations of ancient philosophies that point toward the
enhancement of human life and spiritual culture that you will find at the sites all
along the Baekdu-daegan. One motif from Korea's religious traditions that is still
most commonly found and considered meaningful is the Ship-jangsaeng [Ten
Symbols of Longevity]. This set forms a very important part of the Korean
decorative arts tradition, and was used on everything from folk paintings and folding
screens to embroidered decorations on fabrics for all kinds of uses in daily
aristocratic life. These days it is still frequently used, including on modern metal
doors, gateways and the fences around residential or institutional lots.
To enjoy a robustly healthy life in wise harmony with nature, in the beautiful actual
places of this planet for as long as possible, even for hundreds of years if one
attains the highest forms of enlightenment according to legends, is a key ideal
throughout Korean culture. This is one of the supreme values of Chinese and Korean
Daoism, standing in contrast to the otherworldly or afterlife obsessions of the
religions that originated in the Middle East and South Asia. It is the main goal of
Korea's indigenous Shinseon-sasang [Spirit-Immortal Ideology] that permeates and
colors its Buddhism, Shamanism, Confucianism, folk-culture and other traditions.
The funny thing about the “10 symbols of longevity” is that there are now actually 12
of them, used in a variety of combinations on various artworks that can be found.
The classical list of them, usually named in Chinese-character vocabulary, is:
Another very popular such symbol which is sometimes included in listings of these Ship-jangsaeng
(usually replacing either mountains or rocks) is bamboo (juk or daenamu in Korean), already
otherwise a favorite motif of Oriental painting and other arts. Bamboo grows extraordinarily
quickly, and remains green in the winter snows, being then a symbol of fecund vitality and
endurance, and some species of it are seen to live for very long stretches of time. The way that it
will bend very far under pressure, especially that of the wind, yet does not break, made it also a
Neo-Confucian symbol of the virtue of scholar-officials who are flexible in the conduct of their
duties under the pressures from powerful people and the common masses, yet will not break from
their core principles of right and wrong.
Chinese Daoism prominently features “the Peaches of Immortality”, supposedly grown in a
mystical orchard hidden in the mountains to the west of historical China by a powerful goddess, as
a symbol of long life and the attainment of spiritual immortality. The story goes that eating just one
of these will transform a person into a Daoist Sage with everlasting life or at least centuries of
healthy longevity, like one of the popular “Eight Immortals”. One of its most commonly seen folk-
deities, the “God of Longevity” (often depicted in a triad with companion gods of Prosperity and
Happiness), is always shown holding a large such peach.
These themes became popular in Korea during the past two thousand years, with the seondo
[immortality-peach] becoming a popular religious and artistic motif outside of but parallel to the
Ship-jangsaeng. The western sacred mountain of the Shilla Kingdom’s capital city Gyeongju was
and is named Seondo-san, with its female spirit considered a powerful protector of the nation and
benefactor of Buddhism. One of the greatest surviving early landscape paintings of Korea,
created by An Gyeon in 1447, is the Mongyu-dowon-do [Painting of a Journey in a Dream to the
Peach Orchard], beautifully depicting the western-paradise theme. Peaches appear in many
kinds of Korean folk-art from the past 300 years, from embroidered folding-screens dedicated to
longevity to paintings of Daoist/Shamanic deities such as San-shin.
So therefore there are really 12 of these symbols frequently used in interchangeable groups, but
still collectively thought of as Ship-jangsaeng.
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The sun is a constant source of light, in contrast to
the ever-changing moon. It is the warming energy
of Heaven that gives and nourishes life.
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Mountains seem to keep their shape forever.
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Water, usually depicted in its moving forms such as
rivers, waves and waterfalls, is the Daoist symbol of
infinite flexibility of flowing form that avoid harm and
destruction, and can even overcome earth & stone.
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Clouds are the heavenly form of water, ever
changing their forms and drifting without care.
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Rocks, stone, minerals and jewels are the hardest
and most enduring things in nature.
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Many pine species live for centuries , and they
remain evergreen even in the winter, indicating
vitality and aristocratic dignity.
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This mythical kind of mushroom is famous in
Daoism as “growing in the land of the immortals”
and brings eternal life to those who eat it. It is
depicted as quite similar to the actual fungus that
grows on rotting logs known as Yeongji-beseot, a
valued and common ingredient in Oriental medicine.
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Tortoises and sea-turtles are famous for living for
centuries throughout the Orient.
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They are shown as companions of the Daoist
immortals, messengers that can communicate to
and from Heaven, and also Confucian symbols of
marital fidelity and the dignified grace of scholars.
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Also frequently companions of the Daoist immortals
in classical artworks. Thought of as especially
spiritual and gentle animals, and medicine made
from their horns increases human health and vitality.
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In 2005 Korea hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit of key global
leaders in Busan City, which built the “Nurimaru [World-Summit in pure Korean] APEC House”
assembly-pavilion on the tip of the rocky Dongbaek Peninsula (on the western edge of the famous
Haeun-dae Beach) to host its key meetings. In the lobby of that building is displayed a gigantic (6
m by 2.2 m) masterpiece of lacquer-ware inlaid with mother-of-pearl entitled Ship-i-jangsaeng
[Twelve Symbols of Longevity], incorporating all the ones I have discussed. This extraordinary
artwork was commissioned by the city from Mr. Kim Gyu-jang, a famous master-craftsman of
traditional artworks. There was quite a bit of publicity when it was unveiled, that this “new” motif
of “12 Symbols of Longevity” could now be considered “official”.
As we have seen, these motifs inspire to grant their viewers more than simply many years of life,
but also refer to attainment of vibrant health and fecundity, while living wisely in harmony with all
aspects of the natural environment. Ship-jangsaeng might well be more broadly translated as
“the symbols of enjoying long and healthy life in harmony with nature, with ecological wisdom and
compassion for all beings” – values shared by most of those who trek in the beautiful mountains
for their hobby or pilgrimage. Whatever the number of them used, these symbols will be found in
a wide variety of artworks in the temples, shrines, monuments and public infrastructure that you
will find all along the Baekdu-daegan region; you may come to think of them as exemplifying its
spiritual theme. In particular, look for them on and within Samseong-gak or other folk-spirit shrine-
buildings in Buddhist temples or shamanic shrines, and especially in paintings of the San-shin
Mountain-spirit and Dok-seong Lonely Saint.