18th century dog painting unveiled at National Museum

Korean Heritage

Published: 13 Dec. 2023, 14:00 Updated: 13 Dec. 2023, 15:30

18th century dog painting unveiled at National Museum

″Sapsaree dog,″ painted by artist Kim Du-ryang in the 18th century, with text written by King Yeongjo [NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA]

A traditional 18th century painting of a Sapsal dog, a shaggy-haired canine breed native to Korea, has been unveiled to the public for the very first time in the National Museum of Korea’s latest exhibition, “Wise and Unbiased: Royal Philosophy in Paintings and Calligraphy of the Joseon Dyansty.”

The dog, with its head held high and mouth open showing pointy teeth, is shown walking rather arrogantly and barking ferociously. Why was the furry creature depicted in such a negative light?

The answer lies in the poem that King Yeongjo (r. 1724-76) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) composed in the upper section of the painting, in which he likens the dog to vassals who defied Yeongjo’s Policy of Impartiality, or Tangpyeong in Korean.

Yeongjo and his successor, King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800), actively used paintings and calligraphy to reinforce the Policy of Impartiality, which are presented in the exhibition.

The policy aimed to fairly employ individuals without bias and attempted to resolve heavy disputes that arose among political factions regarding Yeongjo’s ascension to the throne.

King Jeongjo's poem for Jeong Min-si, one of his favorite subjects, written in 1791 [NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA]

“King Yeongjo implemented the Policy of Impartiality to create a fair society in which it does not sway to any side, and therefore centered on the king,” Yoon Sung-yong, director-general of the National Museum of Korea, said last week in a news conference.

The exhibition also commemorates the 300th anniversary of Yeongjo’s accession.

“Ultimately, the two kings’ goal was to communicate with the people, which aided in opening up the so-called Joseon Renaissance,” Yoon said.

Examples include written documents exposing the sources of a rebellion in 1728 and explaining the legitimacy of his accession in 1741. At the time, it was unusual for a king to publicize his political positions.

Yeongjo also expressed love and concern for his close subjects and scholars by gifting them poems and portraits to continuously earn their loyalty. An individual was named gongsin, or vassal of merit, if they had their portrait painted, as it was a symbol of gratitude and commemoration from the king regarding their achievement.

Portrait of Kang Se-hwang from 1783 [SHIN MIN-HEE]

A portrait from 1783 of Kang Se-hwang, a high-ranking official who served King Jeongjo even past the age of 70, includes a short written text by Jeongjo “cherishing Kang’s talent” after the official's death.

“This period in the Joseon Dynasty was a process of kings trying to gain back their authority,” said Lee Su-kyung, the curator of the exhibition. “And the exhibition allows visitors to learn how they utilized images and texts to put across their views. Images and texts are still considered universally powerful thanks to the smartphone today, so it’s meaningful in that we look back in history to see what roles they had back then.”

“Wise and Unbiased: Royal Philosophy in Paintings and Calligraphy of the Joseon Dyansty” will continue until March 10 of next year. The National Museum of Korea is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Opening hours extend to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tickets are 5,000 won ($3.70) for adults.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]