The Mother of a Nation

Uncover the life, art & mysterious legacy of Shin Saimdang

- Emily Staniforth

In 2007, the Central Bank of South Korea decided to decorate the 50,000-won note with the face of a 16th-century artist named Shin Saimdang. The choice was a significant one, as it marked the first time a woman's face had graced a banknote in the country. Many people welcomed the proposal, overjoyed by this landmark that recognised women's contributions to the nation's history. However, many others saw the decision as controversial. Though a prominent artist whose work has been lauded since her death, Saimdang has been primarily remembered in Korean society as a woman who exemplified what it was to be a good wife and mother in a time when women's rights were deteriorating and gender inequality was on the rise. Saimdang's memorialisation has been, and remains, a complex issue, but in deciding whether her legacy should be confined to her experience of motherhood, it is important to understand her achievements and the cultural climate in which she lived.

Who was Shin Saimdang?

Saimdang was born on 29 October 1504 at her maternal family home in Gangneung, Gangwon Province in modern-day South Korea. At the time of her birth the Joseon Dynasty ruled the area known as the Great Joseon State and had done so since 1392. Saimdang was born into an educated and prominent family: her father, Shin Myeong-hwa, was a scholar and a member of the aristocratic Pyeongsan Shin clan, while her mother was the daughter of scholar Yi Saon.

Saimdang was one of five daughters who experienced an unconventional childhood for the time. It was uncommon for girls to grow up in an educational environment during the Joseon period, but coming from such a well-educated family afforded Saimdang advantages not available to most girl of her time. Being brought up in the home of her mother's family, her maternal grandfather had quite a hand in Saimdang's upbringing and ensured she was provided with the same education that a grandson would have been given.