Chilbosan (Seven Jeweled Mountain)

Unidentified artist

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This set of paintings depicts Chilbosan (Seven Jeweled Mountain), a mountain range located in northeast North Korea that is renowned for its distinct topographical features. From the 16th century onwards, Chilbosan was considered a site to visit in order to enjoy its unique landscape. With the growing popularity of domestic travel and experiencing idyllic nature in the 18th and 19th centuries, there was an increase in paintings of sites like Chilbosan, Geumgangsan (Diamond Mountains), and other scenic areas in the Korean peninsula. In this painting, carefully delineated in thin, short brushstrokes and deftly applied washes, some forty sites are identified by name.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art