Dokdo Takeshima Island Liancourt Rocks A Visual Study of the East Sea to Determine Territorial Perceptions

Dokdo Island and Region
A Visual Study And Territorial Perceptions

The historical facts of the Dokdo - Takeshima dispute

Throughout the ages, nations have used visibility as a method of determining which territories were part of their country. Both Ulleungdo and Dokdo have historical records from Korean and Japanese sources that when combined with common sense help us understand the territorial perceptions of this now contested region.

Though both sides have argued with Japanese~Korean historical maps and documents, a basic study of Dokdo region's geography has been given little consideration. What did the Japanese and Koreans see hundreds of years ago when they sailed these waters? When we look through the eyes of those who frequented the East Sea we can begin to understand what areas they considered to be their land.

This page has been created to give the reader an in-depth introduction to the Dokdo~Ulleungdo region through actual images from different locations around Korea. These images will be referenced with Korean and Japanese historical documents and maps.

A Summary of Dokdo Region's Geography

The image to the right of this text is an overview of the East coast of Korea and Japan's western shore. Right away it is apparent how much closer Korea's easternmost island Ulleugdo is to Dokdo than Japan's Oki Island. Ulleungdo is about 87kms from Dokdo, and Oki Island almost double the distance at around 156kms. When conditions are ideal, Dokdo is visible from Ulleungdo's peaks, on the other hand, Dokdo is never visible from Japan's Okinoshimas.
Historically Dokdo was about one day's sailing from Ulleungdo Island in the direction of both prevailing winds and currents. However, to reach Dokdo Japanese had to battle these elements to reach the island and it was recorded to take about two days and one night for Japanese to sail to Dokdo en route to Ulleungdo. This was written here. (link)

This map gives and overview of the Korea, Japan East Sea Region

The image above is a highly detailed map of Korea's East coast (click twice for high detail.) If we observe the geography of the East coast of Korea we can see high mountain peaks from the Taebeak Mountain range. Mount Yukbaek, Mount Unbong both tower over 1200 meters. Slightly further West (not on the map) is Taebaek Mountain that stands about 1560 meters high. Most notably, Ulleungdo island's Seonginbong (mountain) is marked on this map at around 984 meters. All of these mountains allowed both Ulleungdo and the Korean peninsula to be visible from very long distances, especially from sea level.

Below is a Korean chart from the 18th Century. This map shows both Ulleungdo and Usando (Dokdo). Usando was drawn on the West side rather than its correct eastern location. Note the red line extending from Ulleungdo Island to Uljin. This line is marked "Two days sea route" and shows Koreans were frequenting Ulleungdo. In fact, Korean records of voyaging to Ulleungdo date back to the year 512 A.D. Thus, it can be confirmed Koreans were living within visual proximity of Dokdo a millenium before the first Japanese records of the region by the Murakawa family of Shimane dated around 1618.

Both Chosun and Japanese ancient historical documents that recorded Korea was visible from the Ulleungdo and Dokdo vicinity have recently been confirmed by pictures taken from Ulleungdo. For example the image on the right is a photograph of Korea's East coast taken from Ulleungdo's West side in the evening. The outline of Korea's Taebaek mountain range is clearly visible against the setting sun in this photo. The image can be clicked twice for a large image.

This photo, and some others on this page were taken by a Korean photographer named Kim Cheol Hwan. He has devoted a great deal of time and effort in capturing images of the Dokdo region to verify what was is recorded in ancient Korean and Japanese documents.

Kim Cheol Hwan took this image of Korea's East coast (Jukpyeon) from the hills of Ulleungdo's West coast.

Kim Cheol Hwan

Another image of Korea's East coast taken from Ulleungdo's West coast also taken by Kim Cheol Hwan

Japanese Records of Visibility and Territorial Perceptions

Saito Hosen's record "Onshu shicho goki" (Records on Observations on Oki) (see link) were the first Japanese documents to accurately mention Ulleungdo and Dokdo. In this report it was stated "Going further from there (Oki Island) for two days and one night in the direction of Northwest one reaches Matsushima (Dokdo). Also there is Takeshima (Ulleungdo) at another day's travel distance. These two islands are uninhabited and getting a sight of Koryo (from there) is like viewing Oki island from Onshu. Thus, this land (Oki Province) marks the northwestern boundary of Japan......" The above photograph confirms Korea's visibility from the Ulleungdo~Dokdo region. It also defined Japan's western limit as Oki islands by using visibility to determine territorial ownership of lands. Saito Hosen's quote would be carefully drawn on Japanese maps for around two hundred years after his report on Oki.

The image below of the East Sea (Sea of Japan) gives an overview of the entire area of Korea's East coast, Ulleungdo, Dokdo and Japan's Oki Islands. (Click map twice for enlarged image)

The three closeup images of Ulleungdo (Takeshima) and Dokdo (Matsushima) were taken from Japanese historical maps from different eras. We can see Kanji characters that read ̸��-� This means "Viewing Korea (from here) is the same as viewing Oki Island from Onshu.." Notice how the text spans both Ulleungdo and Dokdo islands as one. The map to the right was included with a report on Ulleungdo Island written in 1870.

Thus, even two hundred years after Saito Hosen defined Japan's Westermost limit as Oki Island, Japanese mapmakers continued to remind thier countrymen of the strong visual - territorial bond between Ulleungdo/Dokdo and the Korean peninsula.

This 1870 Japanese map of Ulleungdo~Dokdo shows "Viewing Korea from here is the same as viewing Oki Island from Japan.." ̸��-� (click image)

Ulleungdo's Visiblity from Korea

In the year 1882 William Elliot Griffis published a book called "Corea, The Hermit Kingdo" on pages 110~111 can be found a small description about Ulleundo's visibility from Kangwan Province on Korea's East coast it reads as follows

"Nabashi's camp was in Kangwan, three days journey distant. From a point on the sea coast near by, in fair weather, the island cone of Dagelet (Ulleungdo) is visible. To the question of Kato, some Korean prisoners falsely answered that it was Fujiyama - the worshipped island of the homeland and "the thing of beauty and joy forever" to the Japanese people. Immediately the Japanese reverently uncovered their heads and, kneeling to the strand, gazed long and lovingly with homesick hearts - a scene often portrayed in Japanese decorative work..."

Dokdo~Ulleungdo's Visibility and Territorial Ownership

Dokdo's visibility from Ulleungdo's mountain peaks is recorded in numerous historical documents and this fact strongly supports Korea's claim to the island. It can be confirmed Koreans who resided on Ulleungdo could voyage to Dokdo without losing visual contact of Ulleungdo.

However, what has been overlooked in this territorial dispute is Ulleungdo's visibilty from Dokdo island. The image to the right is a picture of Ulleungdo Island from Dokdo Island. We can see Ulleungdo is highly visible from Dokdo. As mentioned above, Seonginbong Mountain on Ulleungdo towers almost a kilometer above sea level.

In the year 1696 Japan "ceded" Ulleungdo Island to Korea after a dispute involving Japanese fishermen on the island. From 1696 on, the Shogunate forbade Japanese nationals from voyaging to Ulleungdo. Dispite this fact Japanese fishermen continued to illegally voyage to Ulleungdo and visited Dokdo during these clandestine fishing trips.

Knowing this fact, it makes no sense whatsoever that Japanese would consider two rocks within visual proximity of an island they were forbidden to travel to as Japanese territory. It's not plausible Japanese fishermen would travel five days return to these rocks that could provide no shelter in a tempest or guarantee potable water upon their arrival. In fact, there are no records of Japanese fishermen travelling to Dokdo as a sole destination.

The pictures in the next section below are famous to those familiar with the Dokdo / Takeshima dispute. They are of course photos of Dokdo from Ulleungdo Island. Dokdo's visibility from Ulleungdo was also recorded in the Japanese 1903 Black Dragon Fishing Manual. (see link)

The picture above shows Ulleungdo Island from Dokdo. From the year 1696 Japanese were banned from voyaging to Ulleungdo. (click image to enlarge)

Another picture of Ulleungdo from Dokdo. This shows how easily Ulleungdo could be seen from Dokdo. It's unlikely Japanese who trespassed on Ulleungdo considered Dokdo as part of Japan. (click image to view)

Higher up, on one of Dokdo's points, can be seen the distinct form of Ulleungdo's southernmost tip called Seal Point (click image)

Images of Dokdo Island from Korea's Ulleungdo Island

An image of Dokdo from Ulleungdo taken by Korean professional photographer Kim Cheol Hwan

The images below and above this text are of course photos of Dokdo Island taken from the peaks of Ulleungdo's East shore. Historical records say that on a clear day, with ideal wind directions, Dokdo can been seen from Ulleungdo's peaks. Industrial and automotive emissions are increasing in Asia affecting air quality. Thus, the chances of seeing Dokdo from Ulleungdo are becoming less likely.

The photos above and below this text clearly illustrate Dokdo's visibility from Ulleungdo. The photo below is was taken quite recently. Click pics for a larger image.

Japan's 1903 Black Dragon Fishing Manual
And Dokdo's Visibility From Ulleungdo

In 1903 the Shimane Prefecture based fishing organization The Black Dragon Society printed the book �� 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. This publication was printed in early January of 1903.

The relevent text is as follows:

"...About 30-ri south-east of Ulleungdo, and almost the same distance north-west from Japan��s Oki county, there is an uninhabited island. One can see it from the highest point of ߣ�� (mountain) in Ulleungdo when the weather is fine. Korean and Japanese fishermen call it ��Yanko�� (Liancourt Rocks - Dokdo)..."

Japan's 1903 Black Dragon Fishing Guide records that Dokdo was visible from Ulleungdo.

A Scientific Approach to Visibility of Dokdo~Ulluengdo
(From Sea Level)

The box to the right is a diagram of Ulleungdo and Dokdo to help better understand the visual relationship between the two islands. This chart was made to determine two important pieces of data. This diagram shows at what distance Dokdo becomes visible from Ulleungdo's East. It also proves (as the photo above does) that Ulleungdo could easily be seen from Dokdo at sea level.

The section on the chart marked in light red shows the distance at which Dokdo becomes visible from Ulleungdo's shore. We can read, weather permitting, Dokdo can be seen from about 54km away from sea level.

Using the chart to the right we have marked the point at which Dokdo becomes visible from Ulleungdo on the map above. (click map to enlarge)

As mentioned the Japanese travel time distance to Dokdo from Ulleungdo was about a day. Bearing this in mind it is obvious the Koreans who fished around Ulleungdo were well within visual proximity of Ulleungdo in just a few hours.

Furthermore, Dokdo island was in the direction of both prevailing western winds and ocean currents. Thus, it was inevitable Koreans would be pushed to Dokdo as they fished Ulleungdo's surrounding waters during their centuries of residing on Ulleungdo.

The chart above illustrates the visual relationship between Ulleungdo were Koreans lived for centuries and Dokdo Island. This chart shows that Dokdo was visible from around 33kms from Ulleungdo. This was just a few hours sailing in the direction of prevailing winds and currents. (click)

Historical Images of Dokdo from the Past

When foreign countries' navies began to frequent the East Sea, Korea's surrounding waters and islands were surveyed and mapped for military purposes. The images next to this text are some examples of renderings drawn by naval staff from around the 19th~20th Century.

In 1857 on this map of Dokdo the Russian fleet had Dokdo drawn from three positions and distances. The top left sketch is Dokdo as seen from a distance of 6.5kms the bottom left is from 9.3kms and the top right is Dokdo Island as viewed from 26kms away.

This Russian drawing shows Dokdo was highly visible from 26kms away even when viewed from the direction of Dokdo's smallest profile at sea level. The largest top left rendering is Dokdo's profile drawn being viewed from the West to East (similar to being viewed from Ulleungdo). All images are as seen with the naked eye. Dokdo's West islet is named Olivutsa and the East is called Menelai.

To the right are actual images of the Japanese Imperial Navy battle cruiser Niitaka from her September 1904 logbooks. On the right page is a picture of Dokdo as seen from Ulleungdo's southeast Japanese naval watchtower using binoculars. Although Dokdo's image was magnified with binoculars it can be confirmed Dokdo was on a visible viewing plane even when not seen from Ulleungdo's highest peak. This Japanese naval map shows the location of the southeast watchtower. (link) and here (link)

Further details involving the installation of Japanese military installations on Korea, Ulleungdo and Dokdo can be found on these links (click) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

The pictures of Dokdo were drawn in 1857. They show Dokdo from different positions and up to 26kms away from sea level and with the naked eye. (click image)

The logbooks of the Japanese Battle Cruiser Niitaka shows Dokdo Island from a Japanese naval watchtower on Ulleungdo's southeast side. Binoculars were used. (click twice for large image)

Ancient Korean Records of Dokdo's Visibility

Around the turn of the 18th Century two important Korean documents record Dokdo's visibility from Ulleungdo. The first record was from the Ulleugdo Sa-Jeok written in September 1694 by Inspector Jang Han Sang. After surveying Ulleungdo because it was heard the Japanese had attacked or invaded Ulleungdo, Jang Han Sang recorded what he saw.

This record reads as follows:
"...Looking toward the east, there was one island far off to the southeast. The size was only about one-third the size Ulleungdo. It was only about 300 ri [120 kilometers] away..."

Korean inspector Jang Han Sang recorded seeing Dokdo from Ulleungdo Island in 1694. This was recorded in one of the earliest known surveys of the island following the first An Yong Bok incidents.

Jang Han Sang saw Dokdo far off and overestimated the distance. Because of this he also thought Dokdo to be much larger. Even so the Ulleungdo Sa-Jeok disproves Japanese historians' incorrect assertions Dokdo cannot be seen from Ulleungdo's shores.

Twenty years later, yet another Korean historical document records Dokdo's visiblity from Chosun's Ulleungdo Island. This record is from the year 1714.

"...Gangwon Provincial emissary Jo Seok-myeong (��٤) discussed the neglected coastal defenses in the Yeongdong region. Here is a summary: I listened carefully to the people in the ports (��) who said, "Pyeonghae (��) and Uljin (��) are closest to Ulleungdo, and there are no obstructions along the sea route. Visible to the east of Ulleung is an island that borders on the limits of Japan." In 1708 and 1712, strange-looking ships drifted to the borders of Goseong (��) and Ganseong (��), so we know that Japanese ships frequently come and go. The government, however, says that the vast sea is a barrier, so there is no need to worry, but how can we be sure that a future war will not break out in the Yeongdong region instead of the Yeongnam region...?"

The above image is a 1714 Chosun record that proves Dokdo Island's existence was common knowledge to Koreans who lived on the eastern coastal areas of the penisula such as Uljin and Pyeonghae. It also clearly excluded Dokdo from Japanese territory.

The above record is not very well known, however it carries with it great historical relevance. Some important facts can be ascertained from this record. First Jo Seok Myeong's conversation records that the island East of Ulleungdo (Dokdo) was Dokdo Island was common knowledge to those Koreans who resided in the coastal areas of the Korean peninsula near Ulleungdo.

Second the description of Dokdo as "adjacent to", "bordering on" or perhaps even "leading to" Japanese territory. This record clearly describes Dokdo as separate from Japanese territory. This concurs with Japanese records from the same era which also excluded Ulleungdo and Dokdo from Japanese land. (see link)

Lastly this is yet one more document proving the visibility of Dokdo from the shores of Chosun's Ulleungdo

Dokdo~Ulleungdo Island and Region
A Visual Study to Determine Territorial Perceptions
A Conclusion Based on the Evidence

The Japanese current claim to Takeshima is strongly based on her records of cognizance of Takeshima. However, there is an inherent problem with Japan's historical references, that being none of them prior to the 1905 military annexation of Dokdo are proof of territorial claim. In reality these maps and documents either show Japan had no interest in Dokdo (link) or considered the island as Chosun territory (link). In addition of the historic Japanese maps that exist they too fall short of supporting Japanese claim. (link 1) (link 2) (link3).

Korea's inferior maps and records often force them to rely on Japan's more advanced 19th Century western cartography skills or military records to support their claim. These records show Koreans were both cognizant and involved on Dokdo prior to Japan's 1905 Shimane Prefecture Inclusion of Dokdo. (link 1) (link 2)

Separate of all the historical records, Korea's claim to Dokdo from a purely visual and geographical standpoint is much stronger than that of Japan's. Historically Ulleungdo's close proximity to Dokdo played an important role in determining possession of Dokdo to Japan. Of the few Japanese records that exist about Matsushima, (Dokdo) few if any of them, are separate of Ulleungdo. Historical records showed Dokdo belonged to neither Japan nor Korea but rather was considered an appended or sister island to Ulleungdo. Thus Dokdo belonged to Ulleungdo, and Ulleungdo was "ceded" to Korea in 1696....

Common sense tells us Koreans who had lived within visual proximity of Dokdo for a thousand years before the Japanese arrival on Ulleungdo (link) must have been cognizant of Dokdo Island. As the above maps and records show Koreans had the ability to sail two days to Ulleungdo from the Korean mainland at will. To think these people who relied on marine products to survive couldn't or didn't travel the extra few hours East of Ulleungdo to see Dokdo simply doesn't make sense.