Asian Works of Art

Two of the Eight Gifts from the Ming Emperor in Chungnyeolsa Shrine, Tongyeong
ink and color on paper, framed and glazed
each with a description.

The Eight Gifts from the Ming Emperor in Chungnyeolsa Shrine, Tongyeong comprise a collection of fifteen items in eight categories, bestowed upon Admiral Lee Soon-shin by Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty in recognition of his distinguished military achievements during the Imjin War (1592–1598).

During the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, Japanese warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched a military campaign against Korea, historically known as the Imjin War. In response to Joseon's request for assistance, the Ming court dispatched reinforcements, with General Chen Lin leading an army of over 10,000 troops and more than 500 warships. Chen collaborated closely with Admiral Lee Soon-shin, a pivotal figure in Korea's naval defense. Following the successful repulsion of Japanese forces, Emperor Shenzong conferred upon Lee a series of imperial gifts, including two ceremonial swords, as tokens of appreciation for his service.

The Eight Gifts are currently housed at the Tongyeong Museum (Chungnyeolsa Shrine) in Gyeongsangnam-do and are designated as national cultural heritage. Annually, on April 28th, the birth anniversary of Admiral Lee Soon-shin, these artifacts are presented in a formal commemorative ceremony. Representations of the Eight Gifts occasionally appear in Joseon-era paintings and folding screens. The present set comprises two paintings from an original series of eight.

十九世紀 朝鮮王朝《八赐品》之《思刀》、《鬼刀》
紙本設色，鏡框
款識：
思刀：思刀二刀長二尺七寸五分，廣二寸三分，脊厚三分，柄用檀木刻龍首，牙口含思母，思母頷下有思子，足踏龍齒，手執思母之耳環，思身龍首並朱漆，龍首用▯，彩繪龍鱗，通長四尺四寸五分，刀環鎏鉄，桐業樣鞘，用桐木袞紙，朱流集彩，繪龍鱗飾，以鎏鉄龍順貫黃銅環，注朱絲綬。
鬼刀：鬼刀二刃長二尺七寸五分，廣二寸三分，脊厚三分，柄用檀木刻龍首，牙口含鬼母，鬼母頷下有鬼子，足踏龍齒，手執鬼母之耳環，鬼身龍首並朱漆，龍首用▯，彩繪龍鱗，通長四尺四寸五分，刀環鎏鉄，桐業樣鞘，用桐木袞紙，朱漆集彩，繪龍鱗飾，以鎏鉄龍順貫黃銅環，注朱絲綬。

中國萬曆年間，日本豐臣秀吉侵略朝鮮，謂之壬辰倭亂，朝鮮求諸大明，萬曆二十六年（1597），名將陳璘率萬余，戰船五百余艘馳援，與朝鮮名將李舜臣緊密合作。平定倭亂后，明神宗賜予李舜臣八種共十五件御物，思刀、鬼刀即在其中。八赐品現存庆尚南道统营市博物馆（统营忠烈祠），屬國家文物遺產，每年4月28日李舜臣誕辰都會請出祭祀。《八赐品》在李朝偶見於繪畫和屏風，此係一組八幅中的兩幅。