Origins & Early Life

Shin Saimdang (Korean: 신사임당; Hanja: 申師任堂; December 5, 1504 – June 20, 1551) was a Korean artist, writer, calligraphist, and poet, who lived during the Joseon period. She was born in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Her birth home, Ojukheon, which is also her maternal family's home, is well-preserved to this day. She was the mother of the Korean Confucian scholar Yi I.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Often held up as a model of Confucian ideals, her respectful nickname was Eojin ("Wise Mother"). Her real name was Shin In-seon (신인선; 申仁善). Her pen names were Saim (사임; 師任), Saimdang (사임당; 師任堂), Inimdang (인임당; 姻姙堂), and Imsajae (임사재; 姙師齊). Shin Saimdang was born and raised in Gangneung at the home of her maternal grandparents. Her father, Shin Myeong-hwa, from the Pyongsan Shin clan, was a government official and a friend of the scholar Cho Kwangjo, but he was not politically active.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Her mother was Lady Yi of the Yongin Yi clan. Lady Yi's mother, Lady Choi of the Gangneung Choi clan (강릉 최씨; 1459–?), was the third daughter of Choi Eung-hyeon (최응현; 1428–1507). Through his father, Choi Chi-on (최치온), he owned Ohjukheon (the birthplace of Saimdang and Yi I). So when his daughter, Lady...

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