The 1899 Daehanjiji Map-Documents Usando and Dokdo

The Historical Facts of the Dokdo - Takeshima Dispute

The following documents and their accompanying map are from "Korea's" 1899 Geography Publication.  Some Japanese allege that this document is proof that the island of Usando was in reality the tiny islet of Jukdo located about 2 kilomters from the shore of Ulleungdo.  However as we will see, by  viewing the map and using the appended text  we can clarify how the errors of the Daehanjiji cause this confusion . The Daehanjiji defines the North-South limits of Korea as 33 degrees-15 mins South and  to 42 degrees - 25 mins North latitude.  It also  describes the East - West limits as 124 degrees-30 mins West and 130 degrees-35 minutes East longitude. Using this information Japanese wrongly assert Dokdo is not Usando and that the Koreans never considered Dokdo as part of Korea. Let's look into detail to see if these assumptions are correct.The 1899 documents for the Daehanjiji were not available so below are the contents of the identical 1900 edition

On the left is the accompanying Daehanjiji map of Korea. On the right is the text porion that gives a detailed description of Chosun's territorial boundaries. This confirms Japanese maps and documents were used when defining Chosun's territory.

The first point to make about the Daehanjiji is that this is by and large a Japanese document.  The author's epiloge states "All the records in this book refer to Japanese records and the "Donggukyeojiseungram" which is an old Korean document of Korean geography.  Then we must ask ourselves what Japanese records were used to define Korea's borders? Observe the Japanese version of Chosun Sea Lane's published in 1894. It reads "Chosun is in the East of Asia.  The way it lies is long and narrow. It is surrounded by a number of islands.  The position is 33 degrees-15 mins South and  to 42 degrees - 25 mins North latitude and 124 degrees-30 mins West and 130 degrees-35 minutes East longitude. This is identical to the position of the Daehanjiji and thus confirms that this publication literally copied Japanese Chosun Sealanes when defining the territorial boundaries of Korea.

The epilogue of the 1900 Daehanjij describing how Japanese documents and maps were used for reference when defining Korea's territorial boundary.

The 1894 Japanese Edition of Chosun Sealanes gives the identical territorial limits of Korea as the Daehanjiji above.

In the Japanese 1894 and 1899 editions of Chosun Sealanes, Liancourt Rocks («ê«¢«ó«³£­«ë«ÈæêäÛ) (Dokdo Island) is postioned at 131 degrees - 55 mins East longitude while Chosun's territory at 124 degrees - 30 mins West and 130 degrees - 35 East longitude.  However these positional errors do not mean that Japan excluded Dokdo Island from Chosun territory. The Japanese Navy put Dokdo under Chosun's East seashore in its Hwanyeon Sealanes in 1883 and again in Chosun's Sealanes published after 1894 editions again as under the European name of Liancourt Rocks («ê«¢«ó«³£­«ë«ÈæêäÛ)

Both Korean 1894 publications the Shinchan Chosun Jiriji and the Chosun Jiriji were identical in their positioning of Chosun territory. Not coincidentally the Japnese Chosun Sealane documents show the same postions as well. Obviously Korean maps and documents of this era relied heavily on regional surveys conducted by Japan.

When Japan wrote these sea lane records in 1894 and 1899, what they did was to make identical translations of the English Navy's "China Sea Directory" into Japanese and Korea in turn translated Japanese records to Korean to make the the Daehanjij. Both of the books Shinchan Chosun Chiriji and the Chosun Chiriji also coincide with Japan's Chosun Sealanes with regard to the positions of Korea's territory. It is quite clear that the publishers of the Daehanjiji sourced its informaton  from Japanese maps and documents some of which having positional errors.

Below is  the 1907 edition of the  New Daehanjiji. On page 44 regarding North Kyeongsan Province in Volume 2 of its second edition , Usando is introduced as Ulleungdo's sister island and it states "Usando is Southeast of that island Ulleungdo" This record as well as these are clear evidence that Usando does not refer to neither Jukdo Islet nor Gwaneumdo Islet as both of these are in northeastern positions. This also shows Korea did not consider Usando (Dokdo) as outside its territory when writing this publication .

The accompanying map of the New Daehanjiji did not show either Ulleungdo or Usando. However, details regarding the position of both islands were  introduced later in the publication.

Looking on the right is the Japanese 1905 edition of the New Hanguk Jiri it shows the same latitude and longitude as the 1907 New Daehan Jiji above. In the chapter about Chosun territorial positions the New Daehan Jijii is just a translation of the New Hanguk Jiri.  The New Hanguk Jiri was a well-known Japanese book  in Korea back then and the author of the New Daehan Jiji named Jang Jiyeon simply copied from it.

In the 1908 edition of the New Daehan Jiji written by Jang Jiyeon Usando's location is again written as being Southeast of Ulleungdo.  This book had to be published again due to its high demand.

Above and below are both the 1907 and 1908 Elementary Daehan Jiji publicaitons.  These books show the same positional errors as the previous editions.  Although Ulleungdo and Dokdo are not included when referenced with today's accurate locations,  the text portion of them shows both Ulleungdo and Usando as part of Chosun.

Chosun's Daehanjiji Publications A Conclusion Based on the Evidence

In conclusion, the 1899 Daehanjiji cannot be said to be an accurate representation of the limits of Chosun's territorial boundaries because of a few criticial flaws. It's clear by the positioning of Ulleungdo the Daehanjiji is not an accurate map or document with regard to positioning of the islands. This error can be traced to the mapping of the fictitious Argonaut Island (click for details)  Ulleungdo Island looks to be more than double its real size and we can see numerous islands on the South shore of Ulleungdo that do not exist.  Ulleungdo's mapping flaws are obviously from sourcing old maps of Ulleungdo from centuries past. (shown here) However, the different editions of the Daehanjiji do give us an insight as to what island Usando referred to when we read the text. Usando is said to be southeast of Ulleungdo where no other islands exist.  This concurs with other historical records that state Usando was what Japanese called Matsushima (link)