Old Japanese National Maps Part Two Defining Japan's Historical~Territorial Boundary

The historical facts of the Dokdo - Takeshima Island dispute

The following maps were gathered from various sources with the intent of making one point. Throughout the ages Japanese national maps prove Dokdo was not considered an inherent part of Japan as their Foreign Ministry now boldly claims. For reference, Oki Island has been boxed and a modern map at the top gives a geographical reference point for the viewer, From these maps, it's a logical conclusion that for centuries before the annexation of Dokdo in 1905 the Japanese considered Oki Island (ëßÐ÷) as the Northwestern boundary of Japan. For higher magnification, each map is clickable

A map of the East Sea with Oki Island ëßÐ÷ boxed.

Yamamoto Homeji 1894 doesn't show Dokdo (click image)

Only 4 years before Japan annexed Dokdo, in 1901 Japanese maps still failed to show Dokdo Island. (click)

This 1876 color-coded map excludes Dokdo (click)

An 1873 Japanese map without Dokdo (click)

1899 Nogiwa Kaoru placed Dokdo under appended maps (click)

An 1872 map entitled Nisshindo Shinken Zufu shows nothing West of Oki (click for a larger image of Oki)

Oki is cleary Japan's boundary on this map (click)

The above three images are  from an 1800 map by Chisakukan Shyokuko.  The top left image  is a full view of the map and  the bottom left shows the  upper half. On the right is a close-up of the map's border and the characters ëßÐ÷ for Oki Island mark the North boundary of Japan. (click all pics)

The above three images are  from an 1891 map by Fujitane Ihe.  The top left image  is a full view of the map and  the bottom left shows the  upper half. On the right is a close-up of the map's border and the characters ëßÐ÷ for Oki Island mark the North boundary of Japan. (click all pics)

The above three images are  from an 1884 map by Hashimoto Chogetsu.  The top left image  is a full view of the map and  the bottom left shows the  upper half. On the right is a close-up of the map's border and the characters ëßÐ÷ for Oki Island mark the North boundary of Japan. (click all pics)

The above three images are  from an 1892 map by Sakata Ichiro.  The top left image  is a full view of the map and  the bottom left shows the  upper half. On the right is a close-up of the map's border and the characters ëßÐ÷ for Oki Island mark the North boundary of Japan. (click all pics)

1876 Miyazaki Ryujo map shows no islands West of Oki (click)

Hikida Toryu's 1874 map marks Oki as the boundary (click)

Mise Teikan's map of 1877 showed Oki twice with no islands West (click for a close up of Oki region)

1886 map of Japan showed no islands West of Oki, Ulleungdo was drawn on the appended map of Korea in the upper right.

An 1853 color-coded map shows Ulleungdo and presumably Dokdo Island to the South as the same color as Chosun and thus Korean territory.

Though damaged, this 1878 map's images is clear enough to show neither Ulleungdo or Dokdo were included.

In Conclusion

The maps above represent Japan's own territorial perceptions and boundaries spanning over 250 years prior to their illegal 1905 annexation of Dokdo.  It is said that in 1667 Saito Hosen defined the western limit of  Japan as Oki Island. As seen here, the majority of Japanese maps support this theory. Recently, Japan's Government has taken the stance that Dokdo Island is/was an inherent part of Japanese territory.  It is not plausible that Japanese cartographers would consistently omit a territory considered inherently theirs on the vast majority of their national maps. That being said, there are some Japanese maps that include both Ulleungdo and Dokdo. However these maps often include the Korean peninsula as well.  We also know that in 1696 Ulleungdo was proclaimed to be Chosun territory.  Therefore post-1696 maps of Japan that include both Ulleungdo and Dokdo can't be interpreted to be including Dokdo as part of Japanese land.  More Japanese maps that exclude Dokdo are found on the next page.