‘Musindo’ Paintings from Shaman Shrine Dedicated to Prince Geumseong Designated as National Folklore Cultural Heritage

Paintings from a shaman shrine dedicated to Prince Geumseong (1426–1457), the son of King Sejong (reigned 1418–1450) of the Joseon Dynasty, have been designated as a national heritage.

The Korea Heritage Service announced today (June 23) that it has designated the 'Seoul Geumseongdang Musindo,' currently housed at the Eunpyeong History & Hanok Museum, as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage.

Musindo are paintings depicting the deities worshipped in shamanism.

Seoul Geumseongdang is a shaman shrine that honors both the Great King Geumseong—the mountain deity of Geumseongsan Mountain in Naju—and Prince Geumseong. The shrine itself was designated as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage in 2008.

Prince Geumseong is known for meeting a tragic end after attempting to restore his nephew, King Danjong (reigned 1452–1455), to the throne after it was usurped by King Sejo (reigned 1455–1468).

The Geumseongdang Musindo, estimated to have been produced in the late 19th century, consists of a total of eight pieces.

The paintings depict deities believed to govern human fortune and illness, such as the Blind Taoist (Maeng-in Dosa), the Blind Sansin Manura (Maeng-in Sansin Manura), the Three-Buddha Grandmother (Sambulsa Halmoni), and Byeolsang.

The Blind Taoist was believed to help descendants prosper and bring good fortune to a family, while Hogu-assi was considered to play a role in warding off various diseases, including smallpox.

The Musindo of Geumseongdang are also believed to have connections to Buddhist painting.

Features such as the round facial shapes and long, auspicious-looking fingers are techniques frequently seen in Buddhist art, leading to suggestions that they may have been painted by Hwaseung, monks who specialized in creating Buddhist paintings.

Compared to typical shaman paintings, these works are considered more sophisticated in their three-dimensionality and detailed patterns.

The Korea Heritage Service evaluated the collection, stating, "19th-century Musindo are extremely rare, making these highly significant," and added, "They possess a level of originality and excellence in their formative style that distinguishes them from other shaman paintings."

(Photo: Provided by Korea Heritage Service, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.