1894- Japanese map of Korea, "Chosen Yochizu" (朝鮮輿地図)

Below is a map of Korea published in Japan in 1894. The map is called Chosen Yochizu (朝鮮輿地図), and was originally brought to Japan by Kim Ok-gyun (金玉均 - 김옥균) in 1884.

The map shows the non-existent island of Argonaut labeled as "Takeshima" (竹島) and the Korean island of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) labeled as "Matsushima" (松島). Liancourt Rocks does not appear on the map since they are ninety-two kilometers farther southeast of Ulleungdo, and are, therefore, off the edge of the map. (For a detailed view of the map, go to Mr. Tanaka's site HERE.)

On his blog, "Fusou Note - 扶桑雑記," Aki has written a very good post HERE on the map and on Kim Ok-gyun, so please refer to Aki's blog for more information since I will not repost it here without his permission.

Aki's translation of the summary included with this map suggests that the original Korean map may have been made by Kim Ok-gyun as part of his duties as a Korean government official. According to an 1899 Hwangseong Sinmun article HERE, Kim Ok-gyun was in charge of developing Ulleungdo as Korea's Southeast Islands Development & Whaling Official (東南諸島開拓史兼捕鯨使). That means that Kim probably traveled to Ulleungdo and knew the geography there. Therefore, the shape of Ulleungdo on this map may be as Kim Ok-gyun knew it.

Aki's translation of the text on the right in the above summary:

--- Chosen Yochizu (Map of Chosun) ---

This drawing is a large detailed survey map of that country that Kim Okgyun brought here when he left his country the other year. While he was alive, he always kept this map with him. However, when he sailed to Shanghai the other day, he somehow left this map to a noble of our country. Being affected by current events, we traced the map on a smaller scale through the courtesy of the person. In the drawing, positions of the eight provinces, various counties, prefectures, districts, army bases, naval bases, division headquarters, scenic spots, representative villages, mountains, rivers, capes, promontories, bays, ports, and islands are shown as plain as day. This is what he surveyed by using the national power before. In addition, regions around Seoul, Wonsan, Busan, Incheon and Hangang are shown separately in insets for convenience's sake. Also, a table of distances from Seoul to representative places is printed on the periphery of the drawing. Whereas Chosun often become the talk of the town these days, there has not been a map like this. This is indeed a drawing of matchless clearness. Since our company, hoping to contribute to our country, will distribute this map with as cheap price as possible, please buy it in the bookstores and take a look inside.

------ Price: 30 sen, Postage: 4 sen -------

1855 - Colton's "Japan"

Below is a map of Japan published by Joseph Hutchin Colton of New York in 1855. An explanation at the bottom of the map says that it was "compiled from the maps of Siebold with additions from the surveys and reconnaisances of the U.S., Japan Ex." The map is stored in the US Library of Congess.

Since Colton's map of Japan was compiled from the maps of Siebold, it included Siebold's non-existent island of "Argonante," which was also labeled on this map as "Taka sima." (The non-existent island of "Argonante" was the result of a mismapping of Ulleungdo by the British ship Argonaut in 1789.) The map also shows Korea's real Ulleungdo labeled as both "Matsu sima" and "Dagelet Island."

At the time, the Japanese believed Takeshima (竹島) to be the Korean island of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) and Matsushima (松島) to be a Japanese Island (Liancourt Rocks); however, the mismapping of the islands on Western maps, such as this one, caused confusion for Japanese mapmakers (See 1875 Map , 1882 Map, & 1894 Map) and government officials. Finally, the Japanese government sent the Japanese warship Amagi to the area in 1880 to conduct a survey and clear up the confusion (1880 survey). The Amagi reported that Matsushima (松島) was actually the Korean island of Ulleungdo, which also had a neighboring island named "Takeshima" (竹嶼), which is pronounced as "Jukseo" or "Jukdo" in Korean. (1880 Survey Map)

As a result of the 1880 survey, Japan changed the Japanese name for the Korean island of Ulleungdo from "Takeshima" (竹島) to "Matsushima" (松島), and the name of Japan's old Matsushima (Liancourt Rocks) to "Liancourt Rocks." When Japan incorporated Liancourt Rocks in 1905, they renamed it "Takeshima" (竹島), which was the old Japanese name for Korea's Ulleungdo.

1760s - Korean Atlas "Seonyeokdo" (鮮域圖)

Below is a Korean map of the Korean provinces of Gangwon-do (江原道), Cheongcheong-do (忠淸道), and Gyeonggi-do (京畿道) from a Korean atlas from the 1760s called the "Seon Yeok Do" (鮮域圖). A photo of the atlas cover is shown on the left, and the introduction to the map is shown below. The map is stored HERE in the United States Library of Congress.

The interesting thing about the map is that it gives a long history of Usando (于山島) and Ulleungdo (鬱陵島), and shows Usando as a larger island east of Ulleungdo, which would explain why Usando is listed before Ulleungdo in the description of the two islands.

I may add more to this post later, but I first wanted to get the maps and description posted for possible discussion. If anyone has any opinions on the map, please feel free to express them in the comments section.

1894 - "Jissoku Chosen Zenzu" (實側朝鮮全圖) by So Mokan (宗孟寬)

Below is an 1894 Japanese map of Korea called the "Jissoku Chosen Zenzu" (實側朝鮮全圖) by So Mokan (宗孟寬). The map is housed in the National Assembly Library of Korea.

A closeup of the map shows two islands off the east coast of Korea. The island nearest the Korean coastline is labeled "Ulleungdo -Takeshima" (鬱陵島 竹島), which has a small neighboring island just off its west shore labeled as "Ulsando" (亐山島), which was one of the misspellings for "Usando" (于山島). To the southeast of Takeshima is another island labeled as Matsushima (松島).



This map is important in the Dokdo-Takeshima debate because it shows Ulsando (亐山島) as a neighboring island of Takeshima (竹島 - Ulleungdo) while also showing a separate island much farther to the southeast labeled as "Matsushima" (松島).

Koreans claim that the Japanese believed Usando (于山島) to be the Japanese island of Matsushima, which was the old Japanese name for Liancourt Rocks, but this map and others (1875 Japanese Map & 1882 Japanese map) are evidence that the Japanese believed Usando to be a neighboring island of Ulleungdo, not Liancourt Rocks. In fact, all Korean and Japanese maps shows that Usando was just a neighboring island of Ulleungdo, not Liancourt Rocks.

1882 - Shinsen Chosen Yochi Zenzu (新撰朝鮮輿地全圖) by Wakabayashi Tokushaburo (若林篤三郞)

Below is an 1882 Japanese map of Korea called the "Shinsen Chosen Yochi Zenzu" (新撰朝船輿地全圖), by Wakabayashi Tokusaburo (若林篤三郞). The map is housed in the National Library of Korea.

A closeup of the map shows two islands and their neighboring islands off the east coast of Korea. The island nearest the Korean coastline is labeled "Takeshima, also called Ulleungdo" (竹島 一名 鬱陵島). It also has a neighboring just off its west shore labeled as "Ulsando" (亐山島), which was one of the misspellings for "Usando" (于山島). To the southeast of Takeshima is another island labeled as Matsushima (柗島), which was also written as "松島."



The map is important in the Dokdo-Takeshima debate because it shows Ulsando (亐山島) as a neighboring island of Takeshima (竹島 - Ulleungdo) while also showing a separate island much farther to the southeast labeled as "Matsushima" (柗島). Koreans claim that the Japanese believed that Usando (于山島) was the Japanese island of Matsushima, which was the old Japanese name for Liancourt Rocks; however, this map and others (1875 Japanese Map) are evidence that the Japanese believed Usando to be a neighboring island of Ulleungdo, not Liancourt Rocks.

Actually, the positions of Takeshima and Matsushima on the map are wrong. It appears the mapmaker believed Takeshima (Ulleungdo) to be the non-existent island of Argonaut, which was a mismapping of Ulleungdo by the Bristish ship Argonaut in 1789. Since the Japanese knew the Japanese island of Matsushima (Liancourt Rocks) to be southeast of Ulleungdo, the real Ulleungdo was apparently mislabeled as Matsushima. This can be verified by the shape and postion of the island labeled as Matsushima on the map.

Koreans claim that Usando (于山島) was the old Korean name for Liancourt Rocks, but this map and, in fact, all Korean and Japanese maps, shows that Usando was just a neighboring island of Ulleungdo, not Liancourt Rocks.

1881 - Kitazawa Masanari(北澤正誠), a official of MOFA concluded that "Takeshima" is Jukdo in "A Study of Takeshima (Takeshima Kosho 竹島考証) ".

After intensive debates inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), prompted by petitions to develop the so-called island of "Matsushima" (松島), Foreign Minister Terajima Munenori (寺島宗則) finally ordered an on-site survey of Ulleungdo in 1880 and dispatched the warship Amagi (軍艦天城) to the area to clear up the name confusion concerning the islands in the region.

The Amagi discovered that the "Matsushima" (松島) being referred to in the petitions was actually the Korean island of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島), which also had a small island appoximately two kilometers off its northeast shore named "Takeshima" (竹嶼 = 죽서). The map to the left shows Takeshima (竹嶼) to the north of the spot the Amagi anchored off the east shore of Ulleungdo.

Kitazawa Masanari (北澤正誠), of the MOFA (外務省書記官), was ordered to investigate the situation, so he perused the related documents and historical books and wrote an account of this investigation in the "Takeshima Kosho" (竹島考証 - "A Study of Takeshima"). In his account, he concluded that "Matsushima" was Ulleungdo, and that the island that was being called "Takeshima" was Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo, which is about two kilometers off Ulleungdo's northeast shore. He said that the two islands were not Japanese territory.

Here is a translation of Mr. Kitazawa's findings.

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After having studied all twenty-four documents thoroughly, it is now clear to me that after Takeshima (Ulleungdo) was determined to be Choson's in 1699, no Japanese had an eye for the island, but about 100 years later, Hachiemon of Hamada, Sekishu (石州浜田) talked the domain official, who was stationed in Edo, into giving him tacit consent (to travel to the island). On the pretext of engaging in fishing, Hachiemon loaded many Imperial products and set sail to trade with foreign countries. Because of his illegal foreign trading, he was severely punished. After this incident, there was no one who talked about this island.

After the Imperial Political Reformation, Toda (戸田敬義), a former samurai family member of the Shimane Domain, submitted a petition to to Tokyo Metropolitan Government in January 1877 to voyage to Takeshima (竹島渡海ノ願書), but in June he received a rejection notice. Since then, no one talked about Takeshima, except for Mutoh Ichigaku (武藤一学) of the Oshu(奥州) Domain and Saito Shichirobee (斉藤七郎兵衛), who claimed that, in addition to Takeshima, there was an island called "Matsushima" (松島) on the route to Vladivostok. (Mutoh) submitted a petition for Sewaki Hisato (瀬脇寿人) to voyage there. As a result, there was so much argument about whether Takeshima and Matsushima were one island with two names or two islands that it was difficult to reach a decision. In the end, opinions on whether to send a survey team to Matsushima was received, as can see in the four opinions (甲, 乙, 丙, and 丁).

There was so much argument about the matter and it was difficult to reach a decision. Although all the talk about conducting a survey had been halted, later in 1880, Warship Amagi (天城) was sent to Matsushima, and I finally came to understand the situation when I learned that "Matsushima" (松島) was Ulleungdo, and the other island, which was called Takeshima (竹島), was just a rock (竹嶼 - Jukdo or Boussole Rock). Thus, today's Matsushima is the island that was called "Takeshima" in 1699 (元禄十二年), and they (Ulleungdo and Jukdo) are not historically Japanese territory."

Since Warship Amagi only sailed to Ulleungdo and surveyed the area there and did not go to today's Takeshima (Liancourt Rocks), it is apparent that Takeshima, which was described as not being much bigger than a rock," was definitely not referring to today's "Takeshima" (Liancourt Rocks/Dokdo), but rather was referring to Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo. After this discovery, Japan's MOFA and the navy started referring to Ulleungdo as "Matsushima," and today's Takeshima as "Liancourt Rocks."

Takeshima Kosho (竹島考証)

"Takeshima Kosho" is a 3-volume set of books that detailed the debates in the the MOFA. The first volume (上) contains the study of many historical records and documents from Choson, China, and Japan. The second volume (中) focuses on the "Takeshima Incident" (竹島一件), which happened between 1692-1699 and involved Ahn Yong-bok's trips to Japan. The last volume (下) starts with the Aizuya Hachiemon case, "Takeshima Incident in Tenpo (天保の竹島一件)," and continues with the numerous petitions (submitted by Japanese civilians and officials between 1876-78 ) calling for development of Matsushima. Then it describes the debates between officials inside the MOFA, the survey by the Amagi, and finally the conclusion of the investigation. Here is a brief explanation for the last volume, which is the most important of all.

Contents of the third volume(下)

No.1-3 : The incident of Aizuya Hachiemon Case

No.4-7 : "A petition to develop Takeshima(Ulleungdo)(竹島渡海之議)" by Toda Takayoshi(戸田敬義), a former samurai class of Shimane, to the governor of Tokyo in Jan. 1877

No.8 : "A petition to develop Matsushima(Ulleungdo) (松島開拓之議)" by Muto Heigaku (武藤平学) to MOFA in July 1876

No.9-10 : "A petition by Kodama Sadaaki (児玉貞陽建白)" Kodama submitted petition to develop Matsushima(Ulleungdo) to MOFA in July 1876.

No.11 : "Concerning Matsushima I (松島之議一)" Watanabe Kouki (渡辺洪基) claims if Matsushima in concern is Hornet Rocks(Liancourt Rocks), it is Japanese territory.

No.12 : "Concerning Matsushima II (松島之議二)" Watanabe Kouki (渡辺洪基) claims Matsushima(Liancourt Rocks) in old Japanese documents is Japanese territory.

No.13 : "An application and petition to develop Matsushima (Ulleungdo)(松島開拓願書並建言)" Saito Shichirobee(斉藤七郎兵衛) to Sewaki Hisato (瀬脇寿人) in Dec. 1876

(Attached Note by Tanabe : "Matsushima is Choson's Ulleungdo")

No.14 : "Official Correspondence No.1 , 1877 (明治十年 平信第一)" by Sewaki Hisato (瀬脇寿人) to Terajima Munenori (寺島宗則) in April 1877

No.15 : "Official Correspondence No.2, appendix A, 1877 (明治十年 平信第二 番外 甲号)" by Sewaki Hisato (瀬脇寿人) to Terajima Munenori (寺島宗則) in May 1877

No.16 : "A petition to open Matsushima(Ulleungdo)(松島開島之建白)"by Muto(武藤平学) in May 1877

No.17 : "Official Correspondence No.3 in June 1877 (公信第三号 明治十年六月 )" by Sewaki to Terajima

(Attached Note by Tanabe : "Matsushima is Choson's Ulleungdo")

No.18 : "Correspondence No.8 1877(明治十年第八号)" by Sewaki to Terajima in July 1877

No.19 : "Different Opinion on Matsushima(松島異見)" by Sakata Morotoo(坂田諸遠), a MOFA official one of the author of "Compilation of Japanese Diplomatic Documents in Edo Era (続通信全覧)", claims Takeshima(Ulleungdo) and Matsushima(Hornet Rocks/Liancourt Rocks) are under Japanese Oki's jurisdiction in Aug. 1877.

No.20 : "A petition for Development of Matsushima(Ulleungdo) (松島開拓願)" by Shimomura Linhachiro(下村輪八郎) and Saito Shichirobee (斉藤七郎平衛) to Sewaki in Aug. 1878

No.21 : "Arguments on the Pros and Cons of Inspecting Matsushima(松島巡視要否ノ議)" Tanabe Taichi(田邉太一) states opinion A, B and C (甲乙丙)

No.22 : "Middle Opinion by Watanabe(渡邉洪基)"

No.23 : "Opinion D(議論丁）" Tanabe claimed that Matsushima is Japanese name and it is actually Usan, a neighbouring island of Ulleungdo. He claims that though the belonging of Matsushima(Usan) is not clear, sending warship to survey may cause conflict between Choson. (Usan in concern is Ahn's so-called Japanese Matsushima (Jukdo), not today's Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks, apparently.)

No.24 : "Waterway Report No. 33 (水路報告第三十三號)" by Yanagi Narayoshi(柳楢悦)

Conclusion by Kitazawa : Matsushima was Ulleungdo and the island then called Takeshima was today's Jukdo, about two kilometers away from Ulleungdo, are not Japanese territory.

Referenced documents in the book (竹島考證引用書) :
Choson Documents(朝鮮書) : 東國通鑑, 東國輿地勝覽, 高麗史, 通文館志
Chinese Documents(支那書) : 武備志, 登壇必究, 圖書篇, 八篇類纂, 朝鮮賦
Japanese Documents(國書) : 大日本史, 竹島雜志, 竹島圖説, 朝鮮通交大記, 善隣通書, 竹島紀事, 竹島考, 磯竹島覺書, 因府年表, 通航一覽,
Japanese Correspondent Documents(公信類) : 竹島書類雜纂, 松島之議, 松島關係書類, 浦潮斯德來信, 浦潮港日記

1875 - "Chosen Yochi Zenzu" by Sekiguchi Bisyo (關口備正)

Below is an 1875 Japanese map of Korea, made my Sekiguchi Bisyo (關口備正). The map is important in the Dokdo-Takeshima debate because it clearly shows Usando (亐山島) as a neighboring island of "Takeshima" (竹島), which was also labeled as "Ulleungdo" (鬱陵島), while also showing Matsushima (松島) as an island much farter to the southeast. This is important because it is clear evidence that Japanese believed Usando to be a neighboring island of Takeshima (Ulleungdo) rather than the Japanese island of Matsushima.



The above map is also a perfect example of how Japanese and Western maps often mismapped Takeshima and Matsushima in the 1800s . Though the Japanese believed Takeshima and its neighboring island of Usando to be Korean territory and Matsushima to be Japanese territory, the islands were often mismapped in the 1800s, due largely to a mapping error by the British ship "Argonaut" in 1789. The British ship mapped Ulleungdo (Argonaut) as being much farther northwest of its actual location and named it "Argonaut."

The shape and location of the island labeled as "Matsushima" (松島) on the above map tell us that it was actually Ulleungdo (鬱陵島), even though the island much farter to the northwest, was labeled as "Takeshima, also called Ulleungdo" (竹島 一名 鬱陵島). However, the island labeled as Takeshima (Ulleungdo) on the above map was actually the non-existent island of Argonaut.

Also, notice that the small island drawn just off the southwest shore of the island labeled as Takeshima was labed as "Ulsando" (亐山島), which was one of the misspellings of "Usando" (于山島). As I said above, this is evidence that the Japanese believed Usando to be a neighboring island of Ulleungdo rather than "Matsushima" (松島 - Liancourt Rocks), which the Japanese believed to be their island.

A Japanese survey of Ulleungdo in 1880 confirmed the mapping error.

Korean Teacher Union Calls on Japan to Apologize for Dokdo

A May 20 Yonhap News article entitled, "Korean teachers demand apology from Japan over Dokdo claim," says that a South Korean teachers's union "has called for an apology from Japan over its new educational campaign to claim Dokdo."

In a letter addressed to Japanese Education Minister Kisaburo Tokai, the "Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations" said the following:

"The move by the Japanese government to asert its territorial claim to Dokdo in the curriculum handbook for teachers is an act of usurpation of the sovereignty and the territory of the Republic of Korea."

I think Korea's teachers' union should apologize to the world for making such a ridiculous demand. Also, I think Korean President Lee Myeong-bak should apologize for making "Dokdo" an issue after having said just a little over a month ago that he would put aside historical differences with Japan to improve ties.

Korean presidents seem to have a hard time remembering the promises they make, but President Lee seems to be having an especially hard time remembering what he said to Japan about historical isssues and what he said to the United States about US beef imports.

1880 - Japanese Warship "Amagi" (軍艦天城) Surveys Ulleungdo and finds "Takeshima" is Jukdo.

In 1876, Mutoh Heigaku (武藤平学), a Japanese businesssman in Vladivostok, proposed to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the government allow him to develop the Japanese territory of Matsushima. See HERE"

Following this, many Japanese who believed there to be a Japanese island called "Matsushima" (松島) in the sea of Japan started sending numerous petitions to Minstry of Foreign Affairs between 1876 and 1878 asking that they be allowed to develop the island. Though Japanese in the Edo era had been clearly aware of the locations of Takeshima (竹島 = today's Ulleungdo) and Matsushima (松島 = today's Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks/Dokdo), the non-existent island on Western maps called "Argonaut" and the turmoil in the Japanese government following the fall of the Edo Shogunate caused confusion and debate on the names and locations of islands in the Sea of Japan between Japan and Korea. See HERE.

In order to resolve these questions, Foreign Minister Terajima Munenori (寺島宗則) finally ordered an on-site survey of Ulleungdo in 1880 (明治十三年) and dispatched the warship Amagi to the Ulleungdo area to clear up the name confusion concerning the islands in the region. The Amagi discovered that "Matsushima" (松島) was actually Ulleungdo and "Takeshima" (竹島) was a small island off the northern shore of Ulleungdo, which Koreans pronounce as Jukdo (竹嶼). The map made during the survey confirms that Takeshima was Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島).

Kitazawa Masanari (北澤正誠) wrote an account of this survey in the Takeshima Kosho (竹島考証 - "A Study of Takeshima"). In his account, he concluded that Matsushima was Ulleungdo and confirmed that both Ulleungdo and the island he called Takeshima, which was Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo, were not Japanese territory. Jukdo is about about two kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore.

Here is what Kitazawa wrote about the 1880 Amagi survey.

以上、甲乙丙丁ノ議紛紜定ラサルコト如斯ニシテ、巡見ノコトモ其儘止タリシニ、明治十三年九月ニ至リ天城艦乘員海軍少尉三浦重鄕等廻航ノ次松島ニ至リ測量シ、其地即チ古來ノ鬱陵島ニシテ其北方ノ小島竹島ト號スル者アレ共、一個ノ巖石ニ過サル旨ヲ知リ、多年ノ疑議一朝永解セリ、今其圖ヲ左方ニ出セリ、

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In the above (items) 甲, 乙, 丙, and 丁, there was so much argument about this and that that it was difficult to reach a decision. Even all the talk about conducting a survey had ended. In September 1880, when navy Ensign 三浦重郷 and others of the Warship Amagi returned to port, they said they reached "Matsushima (松島)", where they conducted a survey. The island was the so-called "Ulleungdo(鬱陵島)" of old, where they found a small island off the northern shore that someone said was called "Takeshima(竹島)", though it was not much bigger than a rock. In one morning, long-held suspicions and arguments were cleared up. Now, I present the following picture.

The following is the report and the map of Ulleungdo and Jukdo made during the Amagi survey. It was attached to Kitazawa's "Takeshima Kosho" and labelled as "No.24", which was the last number of the referenced documents in the book.

第二十四號

水路報告第三十三號

此記事ハ現下天城艦乘員海軍少尉三浦重鄕ノ略書報道スル所ニ係ル、

日本海

松島(韓人之ヲ蔚陵島ト稱ス)錨地ノ發見

松島ハ我隱岐國ヲ距ル北西四分三約一百四十里ノ處ニアリ、該島從來海客ノ精撿ヲ經サルヲ以テ其假泊地ノ有無等ヲ知ルモノナシ、然ルニ今般我天城艦朝鮮ヘ廻航ノ際此地ニ寄航シテ該島東岸ニ假泊ノ地ヲ發見シタリ即左ノ圖面ノ如シ、右報告候也、

明治十三年九月十三日 水路局長海軍少將 柳楢悦

----------------------------

No. 24

Waterway Report No. 33

This report was submitted by navy Ensign Miura Shigesato (三浦重郷), who is a crewman of the Amagi.

Sea of Japan

At Matsushima, which Koreans call Ulleungdo, we found anchorage. Matsushima (Ulleungdo) is located about 140 ri northwest 3/4 of Oki Prefecture. It was unknown whether or not anchorage was available because no ship had done a precise survey of the area. However, our ship, Amagi, called at this place during our trip to Joseon (Korea) and found a place to anchor off the east shore of the island, as is shown on the map.

September 13, 1880
Navy Rear Admiral Yanagi Narayoshi
Director of the Bureau of Hydrography

After the above report, Kitazawa, the author of this compilation and MOFA official, wrote the final conclusion as follows:

"I finally came to understand the situation when I learned that "Matsushima" (松島) was Ulleungdo, and the other island, which was called Takeshima (竹島), was just a rock(一個の岩石)(竹嶼/Jukdo=Boussole rock). Thus, today's Matsushima is the island that was called "Takeshima" in 1699 (元禄十二年), and (they [= Ulleungdo and Jukdo] are) not historically Japanese territory."

「松島は鬱陵島にして、その他竹島なる者は一個の岩石たるに過ぎざるを知り、事始て了然たり。然るときは今日の松島、即ち元禄１２年称する所の竹島にして、古来我版図外の地たるや知るべし」.

Reference : Lies, Half-truths, & Dokdo Video, Part 5

Are Google & Korea conspiring to hide "Jukdo" (竹島)?

One of our frequent commenters here on this blog, GTOMR, has made a very interesting observation about a map of the Korean island of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) on the internet map service "Google Earth." He compared the map of Ulleungdo on Google's "Google Earth" map service with the map of Ulleungdo on Microsoft's "Virtual Earth" map service and noticed that both maps appear to be the same, except that the Virtual Earth map shows Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島) while the Google Earth map does not.

See the maps belows:

Landsat Photo taken on April 8, 2000

Notice in the above photo that Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo can be clearly seen off Ulleungdo's east shore. Now compare it with the following Landsat photo of Ulleungdo taken on September 29, 1999.

Landsat - September 29, 1999

Even though it is slight obscured by clould cover in the above photo, Jukdo is still visible off Ulleungdo's east shore. Now compare the above photo with the following photo from Microsoft's Virtual Earth.

Microsoft Virtual Earth


Notice that the cloud pattern in the the Virtual Earth photo above is the same as that in the September 29, 1999 Landsat photo, which tells us that they are the same photos. Notice also that Jukdo can be seen in both photos. Now compare the above photos with the following photo from Google Earth.

Google Earth

Even though the cloud pattern in the Google Earth photo appears to be the same as that in the Virtual Earth and the September 29 Landsat photos above, Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo and the clouds near it are faded out in the Google Earth photo. Why? Could it be that Google does not what people to know that Ulleungdo has a neighboring island? See also HERE.

Now look at a satellite photo of Ulleungdo taken from Korea's Arirang 1 satellite.

Notice in the above photo that Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo does not appear because it has been chopped off. I do not know who did the chopping, but I wonder why they did it.

Below is a closeup shot of Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo from Microsoft's Virtual Earth satellite photos. The writing in red was added by me:

Old Korean and Japanese maps show that Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo was once called "Usando" (于山島 - 우산도). Even though Koreans claim that the Usando on the old maps was Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima), the fact that it was drawn just offshore Ulleungdo and the fact that it was drawn as one island, not two, tell us that it could not have been Liancourt Rocks. Liancourt Rocks is ninety-two kilometers southeast of Ulleungdo and is essentially made up of two rock islets, not one.

A suspicious person might jump to the conclusion that Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo was excluded from Google Earth's photo and Korea's Arirang satellite photo because it was feared that people might see the photos and realize that the Usando on old Korean and Japanese maps was actually Ulleungdo's Jukdo. Of course, that would be an unproven suspicion.

By the way, the following is an old Korean map of Ulleungdo made sometime between 1777 and 1787. Notice that it shows a small island just off Ulleungdo's east shore labeled as 于山, which is pronounced as "Usan" (우산). The map is stored in the National Library of Korea.

Korean news site displays childish nationalism.

In a May 20 article HERE, on the Korean news site "Joins," a Korean mapping expert said that the Japanese government's recent map of "Dokdo" (Liancourt Rocks) is more accurate and better made than the map of the island made by the Korean government last year. For example, he said that Korea's map showed "Dokdo" with only twelve neighboring islets and rocks while the Japanese map showed it with fifty.

However, what I found interesting about the article was that the Korean news site could not even show the Japanese map without blotting out the Japanese name for the island. I think that is an example of just how immature and insecure Koreans are when it comes to "Dokdo."

Below is the photo from the news article. Korea's map is on the left, and Japan's map is on the right. You can see where they blotted out the names on the Japanese map:



Below is the original photo of the Japanese map.

A Russian businessman published a book for appealing restoration of four islands of Kuril to Japan.

This is an interesting article from 16 May of The Hokkaido Shimbun Press(北海道新聞) (cache). It's really good to see Russian still holds the freedom of speech. True friendship comes only from truth, not distorted facts.

Mr. Chetulin, a Russian businessman who lives in Vladivostok, published a book on the appeal to Russia a restoration of four island of Kuril to Japan in hope of true friendship.

Mr. Alexandre Chetulin(56), a Russian businessman who deals the import sales such as used cars of Japan in Vladivostok, published the book at one's own expense on the appeal for admitting northern territories as Japanese territory, and urging to build true friendly relationship. It's unusual for Russian to publish the book which appeals for four island restoration around the Russian Far East.

Mr. Chetulin had doubt in perception of history when the Soviet Union broke-up in 1991. He spent seven years from 2000, piled up documents and interviewed the specialists to learn four islands were Japanese territories. He started writing because "I want to tell a correct history to the Russian people who has opposite recognition against truth".

Mr. Chetulin says "Though it's government's responsibility to solve the territorial issue, it is important that the people understand the issue. World War II doesn't end if this problem is not solved." He has been appealing in the Khabarovsk junior high schools and in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The book entitles, "To whom do Kuril Islands belong ?", and prints 10,000 on the A5 size and the strangeness type page 52.Since he wants the Russian people to read widely, the history and grounds, etc. were concisely brought together. Many words of "Thank you for teaching the truth" were sent to him, while there were no one who complains in local Vladivostok.

Mr. Chetulin claims, "Because it is originally one of Japan's, still, it is necessary to restore it", even though the surrounding of northern four islands is a treasure house of living aquatic resources including the crab. He continues that he's going to continue this activity for understanding, since "the conclusion of the territory issue becomes a new start of Japanese-Russian relations".

Korea Times: "Teacher's Guidebook Alleges Japan to Claim Dokdo"

Here is a link to a Korean news article on Japan's decision to include her claims on Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Dokdo) in their teacher guidebooks.

Link to Korea Times Article

Here are the quotes from the article:

• "The guidelines may exert considerable influence on textbook manufacturers, and highlighting the unilateral views of one side as if it represents the truth should not be condoned,'' said Cho Yoon-seon, the spokeswoman for the ruling Grand National Party.
  .
• "If such actions continue Japan must be held accountable for all negative developments in bilateral relations,'' said UDP spokeswoman Cha Young.
  .
• "By proclaiming that Seoul will not take issue on the textbook and Dokdo issue, the incumbent administration brought about the current situation,'' a DLP party spokesperson said.

I find the above comments pretty ridiculous. Did Koreans really expect Japan to give up her claim to Liancourt Rock simply because Korea's president visited Japan? Has Korea given up her claim on Dokdo and removed all references to it from Korean textbooks for the benefit of Korea-Japan relations? If not, how can Koreans expect the Japanese to give up their claim?

If Koreans really want to build a good relationship with Japan, then they have to learn to accept the reality that both Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks, instead of getting angry every time Japan mentions "Takeshima."

Korean Fishing Boat Seized by Japanese Patrol Boat

The following is my translation of a May 18 report on Korea's MBC News:

"Korean Fishing Boat Operating Near Dokdo Seized by Japan"

At about 8:30 this morning, the Deokyang-ho, an 89-ton, gill-net fishing boat operating out of Port Guryong in Pohang City, was siezed by a Japanese Maritime Authority fishery inspection ship while operating in waters 115 kilometers southeast of Dokdo and was tolled to Port Sakai in Tottori Prefecture.

The Japanese Maritime Authority is investigating whether the Deokyang-ho--with its 9-men crew, including the captain--had crossed over about one kilometer into Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Pohang maritime police are trying to determine the exact circumstances of the seizure.

Link to the Korean News Report

1880 - R. Hausermann's Map of Korea

Below is a map of Korea called "Corée" (Tyo Syen), which was produced by the French organization Mission Etrangères de Paris (MEP) in 1880. Supposedly, the map was based on Father Kim Degeon's Carte de la Corée of 1846. The map is said to be stored in the Research Foundation of Korean Church History.

Notice below the full map that there is a cutout of Ulleungdo (Oul-neung-to) that shows Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島) labelled as "Ou-san," which was the French pronunciation for Usan (于山). This map is more evidence that Usando (于山島) was Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島), not Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima).

Japanese Documentary on Dokdo-Takeshima Dispute

The following is a Japanese documentary on the Dokdo-Takeshima dispute. The documentary is already a couple of years old, but it seems to be quite informative and balanced, though I do not know for sure since I do not understand Japanese.

I am posting the videos again for Japanese visitors to the blog who may be new to the issue, but also because I am would like to know more about the people in the videos and what they are saying. For example, is the man speaking at the beginning of the second video Japanese or Korean? Also, who are the other people in the video?

Anyway, if you have any thoughts on the videos, feel free to express them.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

Japanese Ministry of Education : "Takeshima Japanese soil, Teachers handbook to say isles claimed by Tokyo, Seoul belong to Japan"

The following news article comes from today's Yomiuri Online. I learned of the news from Naver's "Enjoy Korea" Web site, which is a Korean site. The news has not been reported on Japanese TV. I do not understand why most Japanese media ignore this kind of news, but it seems the Koreans never fail to report it for the Japanese.

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry will incorporate a description
of the Takeshima islets in the Sea of Japan, over which Japan and South Korea
claim sovereignty, as "Japanese territory" in its handbook on the revised
curriculum guideline for social studies classes at middle schools, The Yomiuri
Shimbun learned Saturday. (May. 18, 2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Read the rest of the artice here cache

I am glad to hear that our government has finally started doing its job.

1882 - "The Joseon Situation" (朝鮮事情), by Enomoto Takeaki(榎本武揚) excludes Takeshima/Dokdo from Joseon territory

"The Joseon Situation" (朝鮮事情) is a partial translation of Charles Dallet's "Histoire de L'Eglise de Corée"(1874). Enomoto Takeaki (榎本 武揚), who was the first Japanese ambassador to Russian capital of Saint Petersburg, had the original book sent from Paris to Saint-Petersburg in December 1875 in order to collect information on Joseon. He translated it into Japanese with a help of his science mentor, Dutch Doctor Pompe van Meerdervoot, Johannes Lydius Catherinus (1829-1908). He finished the translation and sent it to Japan by January 15, 1876. It is believed the first edition was published in 1876-77.

This book is said to have had a great influence on the Meiji government's political plannning in regard to Joseon. Since it was a translation of "Histoire de L'Eglise de Corée," it naturally excluded Takeshima/Dokdo from Joseon territory.

The following is an excerpt from the book:

王国高麗ハ狭長キ半島及其附属ノ郡島ヨリ成リ而シテ北緯三十三度十五分ヨリ四十二度二十五分東経（巴里ヨリ）百二十二度十五分ヨリ百二十八度三十分ノ位置ヲ占ム

The kingdom of Korea (Corea) consists of an oblong peninsula and it's neighbouring islands. It is located between 33° 15' N. to 42° 25' N. ( from Paris) and 122° 15’ E. to 128° 30’ E [ + 2°20’, which is the eastern longitude of Paris, would be 130° 50’ E （Greenwich Meridian)]

Enomoto Takeaki (榎本 武揚, 1836-1908)

Viscount Enomoto Takeaki was a Japanese Navy admiral faithful to the Tokugawa Shogunate. He started his navy career by entering the newly formed Naval Training School in Nagasaki. He was then sent for five years to the Netherlands to study Western naval techniques. He fought against the new Meiji government(明治政府) until the end of the Boshin War (戊辰戦争), but after 3 years of imprisonment, he was forgiven for his crime of high treason in 1872. The Meiji government needed Enomoto, who was educated in Europe and had knowledge of international laws.

In 1874, Enomoto was given the rank of vice-admiral in the newly established Imperial Japanese Navy and the first Japanese ambassador to Russia. The following year, he was sent as a special envoy, or Minister Plenipotentiary, to Russia to negotiate the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875). He successively held several ministry positions in the government, and was especially active in promoting Japanese expansionism through settler colonies in the Pacific Ocean and South- and Central America.

2008 marks the first centennial of Enomoto Takeaki's death.

1967 American map showed "Takeshima" as Japanese

Below are scans of a 1967 map of Japan and Korea, which was a map made by the American mapmaking company, Hammond. The map shows Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima) labeled as "Takeshima" and marks them as being Japanese territory. The story about the map was reported HERE, in the May 5th edition of the Japanese newspaper, "The San-in Chuo Shimpo."

According to the article, a Mr. Sugihara, who is a consultant on the "Takeshima issue" for Shimane Prefecture, explained, "In the US, Takeshima was recognized as Japanese territory around that period." Actually, the US government had told Korea in the 1950s that she considered Liancourt Rocks to be Japanese territory (see HERE), so the 1967 American map may have been a continued reflection of that belief.

Korea calls Liancourt Rocks "Dokdo" (獨島 - 독도) and has been forcibly occupying them since the 1950s, when Korean President Rhee Syngman unilaterally declared them Korean territory.

1662: "Gi-eon - Cheongsa Yeoljeon" (記言 - 淸士列傳): "He traveled to Weolsong and viewed Ulleung/Usan." (遊越松望鬱陵于山)

Heo Mok (許穆 - 허목) was a famous Korean scholar and government official who lived from 1595 to 1682. (See the picture to the left.) His pen name was Misu (眉叟), but he was also called "the old man of Tae-ryeong" (台嶺老人). Among the government offices he held was the Dohobusa (都護府使) of the Samcheok (三陟) region. Also, at the age of eighty-one, he was appointed as the U-euijeong (右議政), which was one of the highest positions in the Joseon government.

Heo Mok was also well traveled and a fairly prolific writer. Among his works were the Cheokjuji (陟州誌) and Gi-eon (記言). The Gi-eon was a 67-volume set of writings on his studies of famous scholars and philosophers. One of the scholars written about in the Gi-eon was Kim Si-seup (金時習), who was a famous Korean scholar and government official who lived from 1435 to 1493.

According to the Gi-eon, Kim Si-seup could read by the time he was eight months old and could read and understand the Taehak (大學) and the Junyong (中庸) by the time he was five, which earned him the nickname "Ose-dongja" (五歲童子 - "the 5-year-old child"). He was so famous, in fact, that he got the attention of King Sejong (世宗), who sent a messenger with royal gifts and the message, "Raise him well because he will be of great service someday" (善養之 當大用也). By the time of King Munjong (文宗 : 1450 - 1452), Si-seup had already grown into a well-respected scholar with vast knowledge and extraordinary talent, but with the abdication of King Danjong (端宗) in 1455, Si-seup was forced to flee and begin a life as a wanderer. He took advantage of the situation, however, to visit many temples and famous places around the country. Among the famous places he visited was Weolsong Pavilion (越松亭), on the east coast of Korea, from which he viewed Ulleung/Usan. Here is the relevant passage:

登臨楓嶽五臺 窮海堧
He climbed (登臨) Mount Pung-ak (楓嶽) and Mount Odae (五臺), and the vast sea (窮海) was empty (堧).

遊越松望鬱陵于山
He traveled (遊) to Weolsong (越松) and viewed (望) Ulleung/Usan (鬱陵于山).

The above sentence is quite important in the Dokdo-Takeshima debate because, as you can see from the above quote, both Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) and Usando (于山島) were described as being visible from Weolsong (越松), which is on the east coast of Korea near Uljin. This quote is important because it is more evidence that the Usando in old Korean documents was not referring to Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima), which is much too far away to be viewed from the east coast of Korea. It is also evidence that the phrase "Ulleung/Usan" (鬱陵于山) was used to refer to the two islands as an "island group." In other words, the passage did not mean that both islands of Ulleungdo and Usando were seen from Weolsong, but that the Ulleung-Usan island group was seen.

The Ulleung-Usan island group is also what was being referred to in the following passage from King Sejong's 1454 geography text, which was describing the county of Uljin (蔚珍) and its surrounding area:

于山武陵二島在縣正東海中 二島相去不遠 風日淸明 則可望見
The two islands of Usan and Muleung (于山武陵二島) are in the sea due east of this village (在縣正東海中). The distance to the two islands is close enough (二島相去不遠) that they are visible on clear days when the wind is blowing (風日淸明 則可望見).

Korean historians try to claim that the distance mentioned in the above passage was referring to the distance between the two islands, not to the distance between Uljin and the two-island group, but since the passage was among others giving distances and bearings from Uljin to places in the surrounding area, we know that the distance referred to was the distance from Uljin to the Ulleungdo-Usando island group. In the case of Ulleungdo and Usando, the bearing was given as "in the sea due east of Uljin," and the distance was given as "the distance to the two islands is close enough that they are visible on clear days when the wind in blowing" (二島相去不遠 風日淸明 則可望見).

Korean maps even showed the two islands as an island group. For example, the following Korean map of Gangwon Province from the mid-1700s showed Ulleung/Usan (鬱陵于山) as one island off the east coast of Uljin (蔚珍), but it was labeled as 鬱陵于山兩島, which means "the two islands of Ulleung and Usan."



As you can see from the above, the "Ulleung/Usan" reference in Heo Mok's story about Kim Si-seup was consistent with other Korean documents and maps, which means that the Usando (于山島) mentioned in old Korean documents and maps was not a reference to Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima), but rather was just a reference to a neighboring island of Ulleungdo. The neighboring island was almost certainly Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島), which is about 2.2 kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. By the way, in the above map, you can see Port Weolsong (越松浦) just to the lower right of Pyeonghae (平海), which is the lower green circle. Weolsong (越松) was mentioned in Heo Mok's story as the place from which Kim Si-seup saw Ulleung/Usan (鬱陵于山) .

Below is a copy Heo Mok's story of Kim Si-seup, under the title of "Cheongsa Yeoljeon" (淸士列傳), from the 11th volume of the Gi-eon (記言). The passage that mentions Ulleungdo and Usando is outlined in red. (Click on the images to enlarge.)

記言卷之十一 中篇
淸士列傳
金時習者。本滄海人。生八月。能知書。五歲。通大學，中庸。長者師之。集賢學士崔致雲見之曰。奇才。乃命名時習。字悅卿。世宗聞之。欲召見之不可。令承政院召見之。厚賜其家曰。善養之。當大用也。於是四方號之曰。五歲童子。而不名也。至文宗時。時習稍長成。旣博達異能。名譽益多。及魯陵遜位。時習悉燒其書。因亡去。逃於浮屠。以絶跡於世也。楊州水落，壽春史呑，海上雪岳，寒溪，月城金鰲。皆時習樂居其間者也。自號贅世翁。或曰淸寒子。或曰東峯。時習早得大名。逢世故。一朝逃世絶俗。佯狂自隱。乖詭譎奇。以取怪而不悔也。以爲居治世。潔身亂倫。恥也。遇亂世。離群遠引。善也。慨然長往。行名山澤。遊摩阿岬。開京觀古國學。薩水問七翁仲。平壤觀井田畎。遂登普賢神岳八萬四千。其外漠北之墟多異草木怪獸奇禽。至江南海陽。見珍異物產之饒曰。百濟以此強。亦以此亡。其志曰。其俗尙強悍報仇。有百濟遺風。出東暆。登臨楓嶽，五臺。窮海堧。遊越松。望鬱陵，于山。至成宗時歸俗。客勸之仕。則不應放跡。玩戲自恣。以適意也。其書曰。十三。通經史百家。磊落慷慨。十九。學孫吳兵法。今已消亡矣。仍言天地萬物之化以自廣。或云無欲而遊方之外。能通氣機運化之法術。有自畫惟肖。其讚曰。爾形至藐。爾心大侗。宜爾置之溝壑之中。妻死不更娶。作頭陀形。東遊海上。適四方。終於鴻山無量寺。年五十九。遺命無燒。殯於寺傍。三年將葬。發其殯。面如生。浮屠人以爲佛也。旣茶毗。爲之立浮圖。有四方志一千六百。紀山紀地二百。又有詩卷。傳於世。陰崖公讀其文曰。跡佛而儒行者也。