Mori Kinseki's Map of Japan~Korea 1877

The historical facts of the Dokdo - Takeshima Island dispute

During the 1870~1880s the question of ownership of Ulleungdo and Dokdo became clearer. Documents and mapping trends clarifying who owned these islands are more plentiful. This is why so many national maps of Japan excluded Ulleungdo and Dokdo. The maps prior to and during this era reflect this, and the one below is no exception. Mori Kinseki's map shows the same positional errors of this time but we see to whom Ulleungdo (ρΣΣφ) and Dokdo (αζΣφ) belonged to is very clear. In addition the islands are color-coded the same as Kangwan Province. The top image includes all of the map and boxed in blue was an appended map of Chosun (Korea) The two lower maps indentify clearly Ulleungdo and Dokdo labelled and named in the same fashion the Japanese had for 150 years prior but in locations more Westerly due to the infleunce of European cartographers and explorers. There is a more detailed explanation regarding this positioning error on this page.

Mori Kinseki's 1877 map of Japan shows Ulleungdo (ρΣΣφ) and Dokdo (αζΣφ) as part of Chosun (Korea)

To the left is a closer view of the appended map of Korea, on the right,  a closer view shows the charcters (ρΣΣφ) Ulleungdo and (αζΣφ) indicates Dokdo. Click both maps for a larger image.

In conclusion, Mori Kinseki's map above is typical in that it shows the same positional errors of the time. However, this does not negate its inclusion of Dokdo as part of Chosun Korea's territory. Some Japanese wrongly maintain  that the islands on this map represent Ulleungdo being mapped intentionally twice due to European mapping errors. If this were the case, there would be three islands on all of the maps showing these errors of location and territorial perception.  The truth is, Ulleungdo (ρΣΣφ) and Dokdo (αζΣφ) were simply mapped further West as a result of Seibold's error.