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The 1903 Black Dragon Chosun Fishing Guide and Dokdo
(Liancourt Rocks /Yang-ko-do) |
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In 1903 the Shimane Prefecture based fishing organization The Black Dragon Society printed the book ùÛú÷×åÛò¦öÜ or Chosun (Korean) Ocean Fishing Manual. The Black Dragons were an ultranationalist organization whose views were considered extremely right-wing during Japan's expansionist era. |
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On the left side of the page we can see the characters ùÛú÷×åÛò¦öÜ these characters represent the Chosun Ocean Fishing Manual. At the center is the heading Ë°ê«Ô³ Kangwando Province of Korea. If we read further below there reads ê¦ÒøÓö for Ulleungdo Island. Most interestingly we can see the Japanese characters («ä«½«³Óö) or Yang-ko Islands. This is Japanese-English for Liancourt Island or Dokdo was we know it today. We can see («ä«½«³Óö) is bracketed showing those Japanese who fished the area and knew the region thoroughly considered Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) as an appended island of Ulleungdo. On page 123 of the Black Dragon's Korean Fishing Guide there is a more detailed description that confirms the identity of Yangko Islands as Liancourt Rocks. See below. |
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The Black Dragon Chosun Fishing Manual Lists Dokdo under Kanwando Province in Korea and confirms Korean involvement and cognizence of Dokdo Island |
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On page 123 of the Black Dragon Chosun Fishing Manual we again see the heading Ë°ê«Ô³ for Kangwando Province. Highlighted on the page it is written «ä«½«³Óö Yangko Island (Liancourt Rocks) with ê¦ÒøÓö (Ulleun gdo) next to it. It reads Yangko Island (Liancourt Rock) is about 30 ri southeast of Ulleungdo Island and about the same distance toward northwest from our country's Oki region. On a clear day it can be seen from Ulleungdo's high mountain peaks. Korean and Japanese fishermen call this island «ä«½«³Óö or Yang-ko Island. The article also explains that the island is uninhabited. |
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Analysis of the Document |
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From reading the above document we can ascertain many facts. First it supports Korean claims that Dokdo Island was incorporated as part of Chosun/Korea before Japan's annexation. Secondly, this document proves those Japanese who had intimate knowledge of the region considered Ulleungdo and Dokdo under Korean jurisdiction provincially (Kangwan Province) and nationally (Chosun Fishing territory) .
This concurs with the documented testimony of Nakai Yozuburo another local Japanese residents who also felt Dokdo was Korean territory. (link) The author clearly states "Korean and Japanese fishermen call this island Yanko Island ..." It can be verified Koreans were both cognizant and actively involved on Dokdo prior to Japan illegally claiming it in 1905.
Another interesting piece of information printed here is confirmation of a fact long disputed by Japanese scholars regarding whether or not Dokdo is/was visible from Ulluengdo Island. Through this publication, both ancient Chosun claims and recent Korean photographs (link) can be verified as factual. Dokdo is visible from Ulleungdo under ideal conditions.
The Black Dragon Korean Fishing Manual also confirms Japan didn't regard Liancourt Rocks as part of Shimane Prefecture only two years before the island was annexed. The author states "Yanko Island (Liancourt) is Northwest of Oki Region...." and not part of Oki. Knowing the hard-line ultranationalist stance of the Black Dragon Organization it is not possible they would favor Chosun in a territorial land dispute. Thus, Liancourt/Dokdo was not inherently/historically part of Japan as the Japanese Foreign Ministry asserts. |
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