Tiger's significance in Korean Buddhism

A tiger pictured in temple art at Juwol Temple in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province. / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington

By Dale Quarrington

The Lunar New Year is upon us, and for 2022 ― and according to the Chinese zodiac ― it's the Year of the Tiger. In Korea, the tiger is a symbol of bravery and fearlessness, and has numerous symbolic and foundational meanings in Korean Buddhism, too. There are various ways in which tigers manifest themselves at Korean Buddhist temples such as in creation myths and legends, the Sanshin (Mountain Spirit), "Tiger and Magpie" painting motifs and other ways as well.

Just like a tiger is integral to the Dangun myth that's central to Korea's creation story, so too do many Korean Buddhist temples have tigers that are central to their creation myths and legends, as well.

A tiger pictured at Gyemyeong Hermitage in Busan / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington

One of the more interesting tiger foundation legends can be found at Bulhoe Temple in Naju, South Jeolla Province. According to this legend, a monk named Seyeom (? ― 1415), who was living at Bulhoe Temple, encountered a tiger and saved its life by pulling out an ornamental hairpin that was stuck in the tiger's neck. To express its gratitude, the tiger presented the monk with a maiden. However, the monk knew that this maiden was from the Andong Kim in modern-day North Gyeongsang Province, so he brought her back to her home. In gratitude, the Kim clan repaid the monk by providing him the funds he needed to expand the temple.

A tiger brings a maiden to a monk at Bulhoe Temple in Naju, South Jeolla Province. / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington

Another manifestation of a tiger that you can see at a Korean Buddhist temple, and perhaps the most common in temple artwork, is in imagery of the Sanshin. Historically, Koreans prayed to mountains and Sanshin for good weather, a bountiful harvest, good health and good fortune.

When Buddhism finally entered the Korean Peninsula in the late 4th century, it showed deference to the native shaman deities, who were the original figures of veneration and worship throughout the land. Buddhism absorbed shamanic beliefs not only out of respect, but also to gain favor with the locals who continued to worship such shaman deities like Sanshin. To this day, you can find these shaman shrine halls, like the Samseonggak and the Sanshingak, at Korean Buddhist temples.

A depiction of the Sanshin at Seonam Temple in Busan / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington

Predominantly, Sanshin appears as a man, but sometimes Sanshin can also appear as a woman (though rarely). There are thousands of different images and incarnations of Sanshin, but with that being said, Sanshin does tend to exhibit certain characteristics. Usually, Sanshin is depicted as a seated figure. Just as typically, he's an old man with long flowing white hair and a flowing white beard. And even though he's old, he still looks strong and healthy. The clothes that he wears are regal in appearance. Almost always, Sanshin will hold something in one or both of his hands, like a fan or a walking stick which symbolizes health, longevity, virility or spiritual attainment. But perhaps the easiest way to identify this shaman deity is that Sanshin is always joined by at least one tiger. Just like Sanshin is the king of the Korean mountains, so too is the tiger. And the tiger acts as Sanshin's enforcer to do his bidding.

Yet another place where you can see tigers at Korean Buddhist temples is in "Tiger and Magpie" artwork. This is a popular theme in Korean folk art, especially pieces made between 1400 and 1800 during the Joseon Kingdom. The magpie in this painting symbolizes good luck, while the tiger is meant to symbolize the expelling of evil spirits. So it's most common to see this style of painting in the Myeongbujeon (Judgment Hall) at temples.

A painting of a tiger and magpies in the Myeongbujeon of Tongdo Temple in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington

Another incarnation of this style of painting finds a tiger looking up at a magpie. There is an especially famous painting of this motif on the exterior wall of the Haejangbogak at Tongdo Temple in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. According to the folk tale associated with the painting, a tiger is wandering in the forest when it gets stuck in a big puddle. Unable to free itself from the puddle, the tiger waits for three days to be rescued. On the third day, a man cutting wood happens to encounter the tiger by accident. The tiger begs the man to save his life. The good-natured man helps the tiger out of the puddle, but the tiger ― finally freed, and perhaps hungry from his three days of confinement ― attempts to eat the man. The man turns to a nearby ox and pine tree and asks them to judge the situation and hopefully dissuade the tiger from eating him. However, the ox and the pine tree side with the tiger. In desperation, the man turns to a magpie for its opinion. The magpie asks both the man and tiger to reenact what has already transpired, so it can better judge the situation. Foolishly, the tiger goes back into the puddle and gets stuck once again, which helps free the man from its jaws. As a result, this image and story are meant to represent the magpie as being a friend to humans.

A painting of a tiger and a magipe on the wall of the Haejangbogak at Tongdo Temple in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington

These are but a few examples of the tigers you can find in and around Korean Buddhist temples. However, this list certainly isn't exhausted, as you can also find the tiger in the form of the Twelve Spirit Generals, the smoking tiger and even in temple wall art, to name but a few.

So the next time you're at a Korean Buddhist temple, have a closer look at some of the intricate artwork that adorns all of these holy sites. With that being said, here's to a happy and prosperous 2022, the Year of the Tiger!

Dale Quarrington has visited over 500 temples throughout the Korean Peninsula and published three books on Korean Buddhism. He runs the popular website, "Dale's Korean Temple Adventures."