Wishes for Longevity and Royal Prosperity
Ten Symbols of Longevity
  • Unidentified artist
  • Joseon Dynasty, second half of 16th century
  • Ink on color on silk
  • Private Collection

This pair of paintings features the ten auspicious symbols associated with wishes for longevity. The right panel features the sun, deer, lingzhi mushrooms, and pine trees, while the left panel includes the moon, cranes, bamboo, and a turtle. Mountains and streams appear in both panels, serving as unifying elements. In the right panel, a meticulously rendered pair of white deer—male and female—appears beneath the pine trees. According to legend, a deer turns white after living for 1,500 years, and here each strand of their fur is delicately painted with fine white pigment. In the left panel, two cranes are shown preening their feathers beside bamboo and white bamboo shoots, while a turtle raises its head as it swims in the water. The mountains connecting the two panels are depicted with a sense of massiveness, while the sun and moon, enveloped in swirling clouds and mist, add a mysterious atmosphere.