Sanshin: The Mountain Spirit Protectors

If you have spent any time hiking in Korea, you have likely encountered them. You might be deep into a trail on a weekend morning, weaving through granite boulders and dense pine forests, when you stumble upon a small, quiet stone structure tucked into a crevice or standing under the shade of an ancient tree. It is usually a humble, single-room building, often painted in muted reds and greens, sitting slightly apart from the main temple complex. Inside, if you peer through the screen door, you will not find the grand, gilded statues of the Buddha. Instead, you will see a painting of an elderly man with a long white beard, often accompanied by a majestic, sometimes comical-looking tiger.