Something that all cultures share is a fascination with longevity and immortality, and the art world is filled with imagery that addresses this. In Korean works of the Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon (1392-1910) dynasties, this often took the form of auspicious symbolism.
There were two main themes to this in Korean art — immortality and happiness. "The Ten Symbols of Longevity in Korean Crafts" at the Koryo Museum of Art in Kyoto focuses exclusively on immortality, offering viewers an introduction to the role that these symbols played in Korean art of the 19th century.
On display are myriad decorative items, each presenting the sip-jang saeng — the 10 symbols of "long life": the crane, the tortoise, the deer, the pine tree, bamboo, rocks, clouds, water, the sun, and the mythical yongji mushroom believed to contain the elixir of immortality.
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