The Desire for Longevity
By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter
Every man will die someday. It is a simple but unchanging truth. Death is what people are scared of most and to live long is one of man’s deepest wishes.
To pray for longevity is part of people’s lives. They try to maintain physical and mental health through regular exercise and a healthy diet. They also reflect their desire to live long in artwork, daily products and clothes.
According to a scripture from Chinese Confucianism, there are five heavenly blessings _ to live long, to be materially rich, to maintain physical and mental health, to share happiness with others and to die in peace.
Of them, longevity is the most precious blessing. The Chinese character, 壽, is used to express the desire for longevity.
The character has been used to decorate screens, spoons, clothes, wooden cake patterns, paintings and ceramics.
There are also ten creatures and elements that are believed to represent longevity . the sun, mountain, water, rock, cloud, pine tree, herbs, turtle, crane and deer. They appear in many artworks as symbols of longevity.
To shed light on the meaning of the desire for longevity, the National Folk Museum of Korea is now holding an exhibition titled “Subok, The Desire for Longevity,” which runs through May 7.
At the museum, some 120 historical items as well as various photos are on display. For more information, call (02) 3704-3114 or visit www.nfm.go.kr.