1904 German map of Japan

This map is from the "Andree's Allgemeiner Handatlas", published in Leipzig, Germany by Velhagen & Klasing in 1904. You can see "Matsu Schima (Dagelet)", "Liancourt R (Hornet In.)" and "Oki Schima" in the "Japanisches Meer (Japanese Sea)". Although "Liancourt R" is too small to identify the colour, "Matsu Schima" (Ulleungdo) is coloured in brown - the same as Oki Schima and Japan's mainland. It means that the mapmaker believed that Liancourt Rocks, the rocks between Ulleungdo and Oki island, were in the Japanese territory. This is another example of many western maps that deny Korea's sovereignty over Liancourt Rocks in the early 1900's.

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The 16th column “Seeking Truth Based Solely on Facts(実事求是)”

Below is a translation of The 16th column “Seeking Truth Based Solely on Facts(実事求是)” by Prof. Shimojo Masao

" "Dokdo Month" without any historical grounds”

In July 4, 2005, Gyeongsangbuk-do assembly in South Korea enacted the ordinance of "Dokdo Month (October 25)" in opposition to "Takeshima Day" which Shimane prefecture assembly enacted on March 17, 2005. The ground they based on was "Imperial Ordinance No.41" dated on Oct. 25, 1900, which is 5 years earlier than Japan's incorporation of Takeshima into Shimane in 1905. Article 2 of this Ordinance determined jurisdiction of Uldo district as "whole Ulleungdo and Jukdo Seokdo", and since the pronunciation of "Seokdo" is similar to that of "Dokdo", Korean claim Dokdo was incorporated earlier than Japan. Korean side explains the reason for this speculation as in Ulleungdo, majority of immigrants were from Cholla-do and they pronounce "Dolseom(石島)" which has similarity with "Dokseom(独島)", hence this reference name by fishermen on Ulleungdo was inscribed as 石島 in the Ordinance. However, in order to claim this, they should have establish when they started to use this reference and when they started fishing on Ulleungdo by concrete evidence. If they cannot show the evidence, it simply stays as merely speculation.

In fact, in his book "The Fishery Guide of Sea around Korea (韓海通漁指針) "(1903), Kuzuu Shuusuke wrote that "Korean/Japanese called the island as Yanko-to". So the former reference name of Dokdo by Korean was actually "Yanko-to", not "Seokdo/Dolseom" as Korean claim. This "Yanko-to" was started to be called as "Dokdo(独島)" around 1904. In the September 25 entry in the Japanese naval vessel Niitaka (新高丸)'s log, it was recorded that a Japanese civilian staying on Ulleungdo had personally visited Liancourt Rocks, which he said was written as "Dokdo" (獨島) by Koreans and was called "Ryanko-to" by Japanese fishermen. This is because sealion hunting on Takeshima became in full-scale around 1904 and Korean on Ulleugdo who were hired by those Japanese hunters went to Takeshima. Naturally, it is impossible that the name "Dokdo(独島)", which started to be adopted around 1904, has any influence on 1900's Ordinance and made it inscripted as "石島" at all. Thus, Korea's "Dokdo Month" has no historical grounds at all and their "Seokdo = Dokdo" theory is nothing but just an preposterous speculation after all.

This is strongly supported by the petition which was submitted by 李乾夏, a Minister of Internal Affairs of Korea, 3 days before the Ordinance NO.41 was promulgated. Since it specified Ullengdo, which later became Uldo County, has "80 ri(32km) in length and 50 ri(20km) in width" and its special products are "potatoes, barley, soybeans and wheat." In those years, major industries on Ulleungdo were agriculture and fishery were extremely as minor as harvesting seaweeds around on the shore around Ulleungdo. This is also proved by the report of inspector U Yong-jeong(禹用鼎) in June 1900, which lead Ulleungdo promoted as one of the county of Gangwon Province 4 months later. In his report "Uldo-gi(鬱島記)", U wrote that "its agricultural products were barleys, wheats, soy beans and sweet potatoes." and "fisheries were mainly harvesting seaweeds." As we can clearly see from this, on Ulleungdo in 1900, agriculture was the residents' legitimate occupation, while fishery were only for harvesting seaweeds. Islanders on Ulleungdo only started to voyage to Takeshima/Dokdo when they were hired by Japanese fishermen who began hunting sealions in earnest on Takeshima/Dokdo, which was 4 years after the Imperial Ordinance were promulgated.

Moreover, the area which U inspected was limited to "the circumference 140-150 ris (56-60 km)(周廻一百四五十里)", which means the area was Ulleungdo alone and he didn't go to Takeshima/Dokdo at all. This is because, for Korean, the territorial sphere for Ulleungdo were already established as Inspector Lee Gyu-won(李奎遠), who inspected Ulleungdo in 1883, had already wrote that Ulleungdo has "the circumference 140-150 ris (56-60 km)(周廻一百四五十里)". Then Lee defined neighboring islands of Ulleungdo as 竹島(Jukdo) and 島項( It was later changed to "鼠項島", whose pronunciation resembles to "Seokdo" very much. ) altogether and those two are small islands within 2km or so from Ullgungdo.

Gyeongsangbuk-do assembly made October a "Dokdo Month" , based upon "Imperial Ordinance no.41". But it is apparent that 石島 in the Ordinance was not today's Takeshima/Dokdo. Since Uldo County itself were limited to the Ulldngdo island itself, which has "the circumference 140-150 ris (56-60 km)(周廻一百四五十里)" excluding Takeshima/Dokdo. Korean assert that Japanese incorporation of Takeshima into Shimane as "invasion" based on this Imperial Ordinance, but it is actually Korean themselves who "invaded" Takeshima and still occupy Japanese land without any historical grounds.

“実事求是　〜日韓のトゲ、竹島問題を考える〜 第16回　歴史的根拠を欠いた「独島の月」について　下條正男”

Courtesy of Web Takeshima Research Center.

Other Column of the Series:

The 24th column “South Korean Government dug their own grave by publishing the English version of "The Dokdo/Takeshima Controversy" by Prof. Emeritus Naito Seichu and Mr. Park Byeong-seop.”

The 23rd column " Refutation against the report of South Korean Yonhap News Agency which misread the Mori Kohan（森幸安）'s "The Map of Tsushima(對馬輿地図)"

The 22th column “ Refutation against "The Meiji Government's recognition of Takeshima=Dokdo" by Mr. Park Byeong-seop(朴炳渉)””, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

The 21st column " Refutation against "Analysis of Shimojo Masao's Editorials" by Mr. Park Byeong-seop(朴炳渉)”

The 20th column “Act of Folly by "Northeast Asian History Foundation"”

The 19th column “"Korea Maritime Institute(KMI : 韓国海洋水産開発院）, who lacks ability to read their own historical documents, criticized on Shimane Prefecture. "”

The 18th column “Absurd and Peculiar Theory of Prof. Hosaka, plus the "Children and textbook nationwide net 21" and others' Getting "Out of Control.””

The 17th column “The Ordinance of Prime Minister and Cabinet Office, No.24 and the Ordinance of the Ministry of Finance, No.4 in 1951(昭和26年).”

The 16th column ""Dokdo Month" without any historical grounds."

The 15th column " South Korea's Groundless Claim of "Inherent Part of (Korean) Territory"

The 14th column “A reckless Courage of the Professor Kimishima Kazuhiko(君島和彦) of Tokyo Gakugei University(東京学芸大学).

The 13th column “Sins of Asahi Shimbun and Mr. Wakamiya Yoshibumi(若宮啓文).

The 12th column “Northeast Asian History Foundation and Dokdo Research Center's Misunderstanding”

The 11th column “South Korea's Misunderstanding of 'A Map of Three Adjoining Countries (Sangoku Setsujozu 三国接壌図)' by Hayashi Shihei(林子平)”

The 10th column " A Blunder of Sokdo(石島) = Dokto(独島) Theory”

The 9th column "Criticism on Dokdo Research Center”

The 8th column “The Historical Facts" The 6th column “Onshu-shicho-goki (隠州視聴合記)" and the "Nihon Yochi Totei Zenzu (日本輿地路程全図)" by Nagakubo Sekisui(長久保赤水)"

The 5th column “South Korea’s erroneous interpretation of the document 'Takeshima and Another Island are Unrelated to Japan"

The 4th column “Errors in Educational Video Produced by the Northeast Asian History Foundation (東北アジア歴史財団)."

References :

1900 - Japanese map of Ulleungdo (赤塚正助 鬱陵島山林概況)

1900 - "Uldo-gi" (鬱島記), by U Yong-jeong (禹用鼎)

1901 - No Korean Fishermen on Ulleungdo in 1901 (Kim Ho-dong (김호동) The History of Dokdo & Ulleungdo (독도, 울릉도의 역사) )

1903 - The Fishery Guide of Sea around Korea (黒龍会　韓海通漁指針)

1904 - Sep 25 - First Record of "Dokdo" for Liancourt Rocks (軍艦新高行動日誌)

1900 The Times Map

This map, "China And Japan", is one of the maps in "The Times" Atlas which was published at the office of "The Times," Printing House Square, London in 1900. These maps were all 'tipped in' to the atlas, meaning that they could be removed as a single intact sheet. Many of the maps are based on maps that first appeared in Richard Andree's Algemeiner Hand-Atlas (Leipzig, 1880s), which is considered one of the most visually pleasing atlases from the late 19th century. The maps are finely detailed and the printing is sharp and crisp with no off-setting.

Please look at the "Sea of Japan", there are islands "Matsu I." (Ulleungdo), "Liancourt Rks." (Liancourt Rocks) and "Oki Is."

Matsu Island (Ulleungdo) was coloured in light green (yellowish green) which directed Korean territory and Liancourt Rocks and Oki Islands were coloured in green which directed that they belonged to Japan.[Click the left map to magnify]

One of the most dignified maps showed that Liancourt Rocks were not Korean territory in 1900. Obviously the people of the world didn't think that Liancourt Rocks belonged to Korea. It automatically denies the theory of pro-Korean scholars that Seokdo in the Korean Edict #41 (1900) was Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks).

The world saw Liancourt Rocks to be present in the Japanese territory, as Watanabe Kouki mentioned "Foreign maps show Hornet Rocks (= Liancourt Rocks) to be Japanese territory" in 1878. http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2007/06/1877-watanabe-says-liancourt-rocks-is.html

And Meiji Government recognised the situation so they decided to incorporate the rocks after they reconfirmed that there were no traces of occupation by any other countries.

http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2007/11/28th-of-january-1905-dicision-by.html

Looking at it impartially, the incorporation was done in accordance with the international laws. As far as Korea has no records to have reached Liancourt Rocks before Japan did, and no records to have owned and controlled the rocks before, it seems that Korea's claim is unreasonable.

1906年 - 02月 26日 ～ 4月17日 - 「內部來去案 第一冊」 大韓帝国、統監府に抗議し日本人による韓国の領土収奪を阻止する

以下にあげるのは、大韓帝国内部（内務省）の1906年における公文書で、蔚珍郡竹邊浦に日本海軍が建設した望楼を撤去した際にある日本人（個人）がその土地を取得して公文書を発行して貰うように申請して来た時に、これを日本人による韓国の土地の不正取得であるとして、統監府に照会して阻止した際のやり取りです。

韓国側は、1905年1月28日の編入時に、官報ではなく島根県によって告示がなされた事、同年11月17日に締結された第二次日韓協約 によって外交権が事実上奪われた事などを理由に、竹島の島根県編入を知った後も日本へ抗議をしなかったのではなく「出来なかった」と主張しています。しかし、本文書によって、大韓帝国政府が韓国の領土の竹辺を日本人が勝手に売買した事を知った後、統監府へ照会を行い、＂日帝は、露日戦争終結直後、江原道蔚珍郡竹辺浦に設置した望樓を撤去する際、望樓長と日本商人が結託して望樓土地を侵奪しようと試み、 6ヶ月間にわたる紛争と交渉があったが、韓国議政府の努力によって阻止された。（愼鏞廈(1997) (cache) ）＂実例が明らかになりました。

日帝は、露日戦争終決直後、江原道蔚珍郡・竹辺浦に設置した望樓を撤去する際、望樓長と日本商人が結託して望樓土地を侵奪しようと試み 6ヶ月間にわたる紛争と交渉があったが、韓国議政府の努力によって阻止された例もあった。（愼鏞廈「日帝の 1904~5年　独島侵奪試図とその批判」 　）

つまり、これらの公文書によって、韓国側の”外交権がなかった為に抗議出来なかった”とする主張には根拠がなく、実際は1906年4月当時の大韓帝国政府は自国領土を日本が”侵奪”しようとする行為に対して抗議する権利を保有・実行、そして成功していたことが分かります。事実、大韓帝国は同年3月になってようやく竹島が正式に日本領になった事を知らされた後も、政府として抗議はおろか、統監府への照会さえも行っていないようです。何故竹辺の件では行った照会さえ竹島ではしなかったのか？

それはつまるところ、「独島」が自国領であるとの鬱島郡守 沈興澤の報告を江原道觀察署理・春川郡守 李明來から受けた大韓帝国政府が調査を命じた後、その誤り、つまり”独島”は鬱陵島の付属島である竹嶼（韓国名竹島）ではなく、実はLiancourt Rocksであり韓国領土外であることが判明したため、統監府に抗議を行わなかったと考えるのが自然でしょう。この辺りの事情をうかがい知ることのできる公文書が存在しないのか、韓国政府が公開しないのか、大韓帝国政府が調査の結果どのような処置を行ったのか推測する以外の手立てはありません。が、同年統監府からの鬱島郡の所属島嶼とその郡庁の設置年を照会された際に、鬱島郡の範囲を「東西60里(24km)、南北40里(16km)、合わせて200余里(80km : 周囲)」（皇城新聞7月13日）と、事実上竹島が鬱島郡の範囲外である事を公式回答していることは、この事を裏付けるものです。また、1900年前後に発行された大韓帝国の地理の教科書等も全て、日本の資料と同じく朝鮮の東限が東経130°35′～58′となっており、東経131°55′にある竹島/Liancourt Rocksはその範囲外と明確に規定されていることも、また同様です。

なお、これら内部来去案は、ＧＴＯＭＲさんが発見・紹介して下さいました。翻訳はmatsuさんのものをたたき台に、chaamieyさんのご意見も取り入れながら、行いました。

內部來去案(奎No.17768) 第1冊, 光武10年2月26日條 (韓国国史編纂委員会サイト )

울진의 근북면 죽변포 망루를 일본인이 사적으로 매매한 것은 불법이니 금지시킬 것
（文書番号）照會 第三號　
（発送日）光武十年二月二十六日（１９０６年０２月２６日）
（発送者）內部大臣勳一等 李址鎔
（受信者）議政府參政大臣 朴齊純 閣下

現接　江原道觀察署理春川郡守李明來의 第十六號報告書內開
頃於上月十三日에 接閱蔚珍郡守 尹宇榮 報告書즉 內槪
本郡近北面竹邊浦望樓 留駐之日本海軍이 今爲撤歸이온바
今陰曆十二月二十七日 日本商人 高賀者 來到郡廳曰
竹邊浦所在望樓與地段을　並爲買得於望樓長인즉　自郡으로　認許公文成給이라하온바
郡守가 不可自下擅便故로 玆에 報告等因이하기
高賀者居住姓名과 何月日에 給價幾許買得과 望樓長之姓名居址을
幷即詳探報來하야 以爲轉報케는事로 指飭以送이더니
即接該郡守報告 內開
即到指令를 承準하와 招致高賀 詳問事狀인즉
自己는 日本佐賀縣三養基郡鳥棲洞二百十三番戶 而姓은佐賀오名은亦次오
望樓長은 高橋오 名은淸重이오 居住는日本佐世保海兵團詰兵所오 居址는 不知이온바
上年十月日 駐箚撤歸之時에 給一百八十圓 買得望樓 而址地는 不爲買賣이온니
基址之隨家는意有常例하야 地段幷買之意로 前有所告이다故로 緣由報告等因을
據査하온즉
蔚珍郡竹邊浦望樓은 日本海軍이軍用暫駐타가 已爲撤歸이온바
今此日本商民高賀亦次가 望樓長高橋淸重에게 私相賣買云者가 非徒違越定章이오라
萬不近理이하기
玆以仰佈하오니 査照하신 후 迅辦交涉하시와 即行禁止케하시고 示明하시믈 爲要.

內部大臣勳一等 李址鎔 議政府參政大臣 朴齊純 閣下
光武十年二月二十六日

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

內部來去案(奎No.17768) 第1冊, 光武10年2月26日條

蔚珍の近北面竹邊浦の望樓を日本人が私的に売買したのは不法なので禁止させること
（文書番号）照会第３号　
（発送日）１９０６年２月２６日
（発送者）内部大臣李址鎔
（受信者）議政府參政大臣朴齊純

　　江原道觀察署理春川郡守李明來から「第１６号報告書」を受けた。その内容は次の通り。

　先月１３日に蔚珍郡守尹宇榮の報告を受けた。それによれば、蔚珍郡近北面竹邊浦の望楼に駐留していた日本海軍が最近撤収したが、１２月２７日(書き起こし文には陰暦とあるが、新暦では1906年1月21日に当り、この日は日曜日で、しかも1月13日に蔚珍郡守尹宇榮から江原道觀察署理春川郡守李明來へこの件に関して報告がすでになされているので、新暦12月27日の誤りと推測される。)に日本商人高賀という者が蔚珍郡庁に来て、「竹邊浦所在の望楼とその土地を望楼長から買得したので、蔚珍郡庁からその認可する公文書を交付してほしい」ということである。郡守としては、自分の一存で処理することが出来ないので、報告するということであった。

　そこで、高賀という人物の住所・姓名、ならびに何月何日にいくらで買得したのか、さらに望樓長の姓名・住所を速やかに詳しく調べて報告せよと指示したところ、蔚珍郡守から次の報告があった。

　　指令を受けて、高賀を招致して詳しい事情を聞いたところ、「自分は、日本の佐賀県三養基郡鳥棲洞２１３番地の、佐賀亦次という。望樓長は高橋淸重と言い、その居所は日本佐世保海兵団の詰所であるが、住所は知らない。去年十月、駐屯していた日本海軍が撤収する時に１８０円を出して望楼を買った。しかし、土地は買っていない。土地は、その上に建っている建物の持ち主のものであるのが普通なので土地も併せて買いたいと思い、前所有者に申し入れた。（もしくは ”以前そう告げていたので、土地も併せて買いたい”の意か。）」ということである。

　（李明來もしくは李址鎔の言葉）この報告に基づき調査をしたが、蔚珍郡竹邊浦の望楼は、日本海軍が軍用に暫く駐屯していて既に撤収したのであるが、今、日本商人の高賀亦次が望樓長の高橋淸重から私的に買い取ったというのは法律に違反するものでいかにも理に合わないことなので、（李址鎔は）ここに報告するので内容確認のうえ速やかに交渉され、即刻禁止させてそれを明示されるよう願う。

內部大臣勳一等李址鎔より議政府參政大臣朴齊純閣下へ
１９０６年２月２６日


內部來去案 第1冊,　光武10年4月17日條, 議政府照會　第56號.　(韓国国史編纂委員会サイト )

울진의 근북면 죽변포 망루 및 부속건물을 일본인에게 매각함을 조회
（文書番号）議政府 照會 第五十六號 內部
（発送日）光武十年四月十七日（１９０６年０４月１７日）
（発送者）議政府參政大臣 朴齊純
（受信者）內部大臣 李址鎔 閣下
（決済者）議政大臣 參贊 秘書課長 文書課長參政大臣 局長 調査課長 一課長

貴第三號 照會는接到하와
以蔚珍郡竹邊浦所在 望樓與地段 私相賣買禁止一事로
準即行文 日本統監□하고 業經照覆在案이온바
現樓該統監照覆內開
去月十四日 以蔚珍郡竹邊浦望樓賣却一事 接到貴第十三號照會 當經閱悉
準即行文 我佐世保海軍鎭守府 調査事實 仍接復開
該望樓所用建物及營造物　以代金收納後 擧越他人之意 賣却於佐賀縣人古賀亦次
去年十二月二十七日 業經受領代金　然該敷地決無賣却等因
準此照覆 照亮爲盼等因이하기
玆에 照會하오니 照亮하심을 爲要．
議政府參政大臣 朴齊純 　內部大臣 李址鎔 閣下

議政大臣 參贊 秘書課長 文書課長
參政大臣 局長 調査課長 一課長
光武十年四月十七日
光武十年四月十一日 裁定 課員

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

內部來去案 第1冊,　光武10年4月17日條, 議政府照會　第56號

蔚珍郡近北面竹邊浦の望樓及び付属建物を日本人に売却したことについての照会
（文書番号）議政府照会第５６号　内部（内務省）
（発送日）１９０６年４月１７日
（発送者）議政府參政大臣 朴齊純
（受信者）内部大臣 李址鎔
（決裁者）議政大臣 參贊 秘書課長 文書課長　參政大臣 局長 調査課長 一課長

　貴第３号照会を受けて、蔚珍郡竹邊浦の望楼と土地の私的売買禁止の件について、(日本の韓国)統監に照会し回答を得た。回答は次のとおりである。

　　先月１４日、蔚珍郡竹邊浦の望楼売却について貴第１３号照会を受け取ったが、その照会に基づき日本の佐世保海軍鎭守府に文書を送って事実を調査したところ、その報告によれば、その望楼用の建物と設備は、代金收納後に全て他人に譲渡することとし、佐賀県人である古賀亦次に売却した。昨年１２月２７日に既に代金を受領したが、その敷地は売却していない。以上回答するので承知されたい。

　このような照会結果であったので、内容を確認されたい。

議政府參政大臣朴齊純より内部大臣李址鎔閣下へ

１９０６年４月１７日

1905（明治38）年1月の日本政府による竹島編入の閣議決定及び内務大臣の訓令に基づき、島根県知事は、2月、竹島が「竹島」と命名され隠岐島司の所管となった旨を告示するとともに、隠岐島庁に対してもこれを伝えました。当時の新聞にも掲載され広く一般に伝えられました。また、島根県知事は、竹島が「島根県所属隠岐島司ノ所管」と定められたことを受け、竹島を官有地台帳に登録するとともに、あしかの捕獲を許可制としました。（外務省ＨＰ より部分抜粋）。これら一連の正式な手続きは、国際法による領土編入の為の要件を十分に満たすものです。

また、竹島は日露戦争中の日本海海戦の主戦場となった事から、広くその名が正確な位置とともに知れ渡る事となりました。日露戦争の華やかな報道とともに、領土編入による「リャンコ島」「リヤンクール岩」といった従来の呼称が、官報 を始め各メディア によって新名称「竹島」と訂正される様子が当時の資料から明確になっています。1905年の時点において、こうした報道は当時東京を始め日本に多数居住していた韓国人にとっては当然周知の事実であったと考えられますし、また韓国においても現地語で報道された 内容などから、「旧リャンコ島が竹島という日本領土となった事実を韓国人が全く気付かなかったために日本政府に抗議できなかった」となどいうことはありえなかったでしょうし、1906年に気がついた後も抗議はおろか、今回明らかになったように抗議可能であったにも関わらず統監府への抗議どころか照会さえ行っていないことから、大韓帝国政府は1906年の時点で竹島を自国領土外であると考えていた事は明白です。

参照 :
1905 - January 28th: the decision to incorporate Takeshima in to Shimane by a Cabinet meeting （公文類集第29編 竹島編入閣議決定）

1905 - Feb 24 - Takeshima Incorporated into Shimane Prefecture (山陰新報 "隠岐の新島")

1905 - May 29 , 30 & June 5- An Extra of Official Gazette "The War Report of The Japan Naval Battle"

1905 - June 2 - 皇城新聞 : Korean called "Liancourt Rocks(リアンコルド岩)" as "Angohu島", not "Dokdo", Seokdo nor Usando.

1905 - June 3 - Japanese Magazine ”The True Record of Russo-Japanese War (日露戦争実記")

1905 - Jul 3 - "Postcards to Commemorate Naval Battle" (山陰新報 " 海戦記念絵葉書")

1905 - Aug 6 - Japanese Officials to Visit Takeshima (山陰新報 "竹島渡航")

1905 - Aug 22 - "Governor Matsunaga Inspects Takeshima" (山陰新報 "松永知事の竹島視察")

1905 - Aug 22 - "Sea Pigs" Near Takeshima (山陰新報 "県庁内に海豚放養")

1906 - Mar 11 - "Voyage to Takeshima Decided" (山陰新報 "竹島行決定")

Korean Eastern limits described in various books world wide exclude Takeshima/Dokdo from Korean Territory

1903 German Map of Japan which was owned by German Embassy

This German topographical map of Japan was published in Leipzig in 1903. This map has a grave meaning because it had been used in the German Embassy in Tokyo until it was brought out after the World War II, which may mean that the map was recognised as one of the most accurate maps of Japan by Germany as a nation from 1903 until 1945.

Please take a look at the islands in the Sea of Japan. Ulleungdo was labelled as "Matsu-sh. (Dagelet I.)" and Liancourt Rocks were labelled as "Liancourt Rocks / Hornet In." and both of the islands were coloured green - the same colour as Japan mainland.

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This is another evidence to show that western countries, including the Embassy of a western country, recognised that Liancourt Rocks were not Korean territory in 1903 - three years after the promulgation of the Korean Edict #41 and two years before the incorporation of the rocks into Japan.

Korea actually didn't own Liancourt Rocks, at least the world didn't recognise that Korea owned the rocks.

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1941 - ”Geography Text of Kangwon Province (江原道誌)” reconfirms it is Ulleungdo which can be seen and it is from Ulgin

”Geography Text of Kangwon Province (江原道誌)”　was first published in 1940, while Korea was under Japanese Annexation. I'm not sure if the text was written by Japanese or Korean, but it was written in old Chinese (漢文), which was very rare in Japan in 1940s. Though it was published years after Japan's incorporation of Takeshima into Shimane in 1905, it still shows many interesting points.

The most important point in the text is that it clearly states that "Ulleungdo can be seen from Ulgin", Choson peninsula, not "Usando from Ulleungdo" like pro-Korean insist. In addition, it states Ulleungdo locates at the 135° 5′ E, which seems to be the mistake of at the 135° 55′ E, which is the Eastern longitude of Jukdo(竹島). ( Jukdo(竹島) was included in the section of "山川(Mountains and Rivers)", but not Dokdo, Usando nor Seokdo or any other name Korean claim as other names for Takeshima/Dokdo.)

江原道誌　巻之十一 附録　鬱陵島　
・・・
〔位置及地勢〕 在蔚珍郡竹邊港東北海中三峰岌業撑空 南峯稍卑 風日清明 則峰頭樹木及山根沙渚 歴歴可見風便則二日可到全島絶壁周囲層岩峻急作三角形河川清冽原野雖少火山灰及腐植土甚肥沃距竹邊七十六浬東経一百三十度五分北緯三十七度三十分面積七千三百五十一町
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The Geography Text of Kangwon Province, Vol.11. Appendix Ulleungdo
・・・
(Location and Geography) It locates in the Northeastern sea of 蔚珍(Uljin)郡竹邊 harbour. Three peaks reach high into the sky. The southern peak gets gradually smaller. On clear, windy days, the trees on the summits and the sandy beaches at the base of the mountains are clearly visible. With a fair wind, they can be reached in two days. The whole island was surrounded by steep cliffs and covered by layers of rocks. The shape of the island is triangular. The clear rivers are running through the wild fields. Though there are not so much volcanic ashes and leaf molds, the land is fertile. It is 76 sea miles apart from 竹邊. It locates at the 135° 5′ E and 37° 30′ N. They have an area of 7351 cho (72.9 k㎡).

Actually, there is no mention of Usando at all in the sentence unlike other old documents, this time. So they are undoubtedly talking about the visibility of Ulleungdo from peninsula, that's for sure. It flatterly debunks Korean claim that the distance being talked about in the passage below from Geography Text of Korea's King Sejong (1454) was the distance between the two islands (Ullegungdo and Usan) rather than the distance between Uljin and the two island. The Korean translation is simply wrong if you read whole text.

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 新羅時 稱于山國 一云鬱陵島. 地方百里
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The two islands of Usan and Mu-leung are in the sea due east of the present "hyeon" (Uljin), and the distance between them is close enough that they are visible on a clear, windy day. In the time of Silla, they were called Unsan-guk or Ulleungdo. It has an area of 100 ri.

This is also supported by almost all other Korean old documents which states about the visibility of Ulleungdo. For example, Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungram (新增東國輿地勝覽) (1530) also states that the islands of Usando/Ulleungdo (于山島 鬱陵島) were visible from the east coast of Korea. The text is almost same with Geography Text of Kangwon Province(1940), though Usando was described as same island as well.

于山島 鬱陵島 一云武陵 一云羽陵 二島在縣正東海中 三峯岌嶪撑空 南峯稍卑 風日淸明則峯頭樹木 及山根沙渚 歷歷可見 風便則二日可到 一說于山鬱陵 本一島 地方百里---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Usando/Ulleungdo are also called Muleung (武陵) or Uleung 羽陵). The two islands are in the sea due east of this village (Uljin). Three peaks reach high into the sky. The southern peak gets gradually smaller. On clear, windy days, the trees on the summits and the sandy beaches at the base of the mountains are clearly visible. With a fair wind, they can be reached in two days. It is said that Usan/Ulleung were originally one island. They have an area of 100 ri.

Second point is, it states that the early immigrants are mainly from 江原慶尚両道, not 全羅南道 as some pro-Korean claim.

〔沿革〕 ．．．（高宗）三十一年定開拓令置島長自是江原慶尚両道沿海民多移住者光武四年改為鬱陵郡置郡守隆煕元年移属慶尚南道併合後大正三年移属慶尚北道四年改郡守為島司 --------------------------------
(History) ... In the year of 31 (of King Kojong)(1894), the order of development was issued. The head of island was appointed and coastal residents of both 江原 and 慶尚 province mainly immigrated. In the 4th year of 光武(1900), it was determined as Ulleungdo County and the County Magistrate (郡守) was appointed. In the first year of 隆煕(1907), the administration was moved to 慶尚南道, and after the annexation, it was again moved to the 慶尚北道 in the 3rd year of Taisho(大正)（1914）. And the "County Magistrate" was changed to "Island Magistrate(島守)".

Thirdly, it states that Usan was an old name for Ulleungdo. This is the only opportunity the name of "Usan" was mentioned in the text. "Usan" or "Usando" had been actually a name for Ulleungdo itself until Joseon Dynasy started to send official inspectors and gained more information around Ulleungdo in the late 1600s. Before that, Korean were not perfectly sure if there even really exit two islands. After the inspection, Inspector Bak Seok-chang (朴錫昌) made the map of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島圖形) 1711 and placed Usando(=Jukdo) right east to Ulleungdo with a label, "So-called Usando, Grove(s) of Haejang Bamboo (所謂于山島 海長竹田)". It crystellized the conception that Usando was Jukdo, 2.2 kilometers off the east shore of Ulleungdo and almost all the Korean maps started to place Usando to the east of Ulleungdo. Before that, the location of two islands were confusional and "Usando" and Ulleungdo were recorded to be one island with different names / Two different islands in many Korean old documents. This historical coufusion remains even in official documents for a long time.

〔舊(古)島名〕　于山　羽陵　武陵　蔚陵　鬱陵
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(Old Name of Uleungdo) Usan, Ulleung, Mulleung, Ulleung, Ulleung

Lastly, as I already mentioned above, though the text mentions 観音島 and Jukdo(竹島/竹嶼) in the section of "山川(Mountains and Rivers)", but not Dokdo, Usando nor Seokdo or any other name Korean claim other names for today's Takeshima/Dokdo.

〔山川〕弥勒峰 在島北海抜七百一米突 錐山 在島北海抜四百五十米突 孔岩 在島北 卵峰 在島北海抜六百十一米突 聖人峰 在島北海抜九百八十四米突 冠冑峰 在島北鎮山海抜七百米突 水雷岩 可頭峰 倶在島西海邊 老人峰 在島北台霞洞 待風坎 在島北玄圃西 千年浦 在島北羅里 竹岩 在島北天府北 島項嘴 在天府東海濱 観音島 在島東海濱
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(Mountains and Rivers) Maitreya(弥勒) peak locates at the north of the island with 701m of the sea level. A Gimlet Mountain locates at the north of the island with 450m of the sea level. 孔岩 locates at the north of the island. Egg peak locates at the north of the island with 611m of the sea level. A Saint peak(聖人峰) locates at the north of the island with 701m of the sea level.

After the name "Usando" started being officially dropped from Jukdo and the name of Jukdo, Ulleungdo's neighboring island, which is only 2 kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore, was officially recorded as Jukdo(竹島) by inspector 李奎遠 in 1882, right after Kitazawa Masanari(北澤正誠), a Japanese official of MOFA concluded that "竹島(Takeshima)" is Jukdo in 1881, "Usando", the old name for Jukdo, somehow started wondering again among Korean residents on Ulleungdo and they lost the location of "Usando".

This confusional naming shift around 1900 gave space for today's Korea's illogical claim "Usando was an old name for today's Takeshima/Dokdo", not Jukdo nor Ulleungdo, in addition to the name confusion by Japanese in Meiji due to the introduction of mismapped two Uleungdos in western maps, plus Japanese' newly giving Liancourt Rocks a name of Takeshima(竹島), which is the same Chinese as Korean Jukdo. But if the name "Usando" really didn't mean Jukdo, Korean in early 1900s must have named other islets around Ulleungdo or Takeshima/Dokdo as Usando, but they didn't, in reality. It practically means Usando didn't mean any other islets around Ulleungdo, except for Jukdo. Korean gave Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks, which Japanese introduced them in 1900s, a new name "Dokdo(独島)", which means "Sole/Lonely island", instead. The meaning of the name itself debunks Korea's claim that the Takeshima/Dokdo have been considered to be Ulleungdo's neighbouring island.

Those historical facts also tell us that Usando was almost certainly the old name for Jukdo(竹島 : Japanese write as 竹嶼), not today's Takeshima/Dokdo.

A lots of thanks to GTOMR for showing this important document.



References;

Q 2: What is Ulleungdo's largest neighboring island?

Q 3: Why did old Korean maps show Ulleungdo as two islands?

Q 4: Did King Sejong's geography text mention Dokdo?

Q 5: Did Korea's 1530 "Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungram" mention Dokdo?

1694 - Jang Han-sang (張漢相) Finds Sambongdo (三峯島)

1711 - Bak Chang-seok's (朴昌錫) Map of Ulleungdo （鬱陵島圖形）

1807 - May 12 - Lee Tae-gun (李泰根) Inspects Ulleungdo (日省録)

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) "

1882 - April 7 - King Kojong says Usando Neighboring Island of Ulleungdo (高宗 19卷, 19年 4月 7日 壬戌)

1906 - July - Korea Omits Dokdo from Uldo County (皇城新聞 「鬱島郡의 配置顛末」)

1913 - June 22- Location of Usando Unknown in Early 1900s (毎日申報 "無人島探検中止")

1918 - Japanese Map of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島図　朝鮮総督府)

1863 Korean Map from Japanese Woodblock Encyclopedia

This map is from a Japanese woodblock encyclopedia called "Edo Daisetsuyo Kaidaigura" (江戸大節用海内蔵) which was published in 1863, the 3rd year of Bunkyu. It contained a map of Korea which was titled as "Map of Chosun Country" (朝鮮国図), although we have no detailed information who made this map etc.

Please look at the map (click the map to enlarge). There is Ulleungdo "欝陵" at off the coast of 江陵 with three tiny islets around it, and you may notice a larger island at the north of Ulleungdo and it labelled as "Usando". This Usando is apparently different from Liancourt Rocks in the location, shape and size. It maybe an imaginary island which Korean people believed to be present.

The map resembles the Map of Joseon which Kaneganese introduced before in the following post:

http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2008/07/1600s-map-of-joseon.html

It seems possible that the mapmaker for the 江戸大節用海内蔵 referenced the map. According to Kaneganese's investigation the woodblock encyclopedia had been revised for many times and the oldest version was published in 1704. So it may have been a common knowledge among Japanese people that Usando was a larger island at the north of Ulleungdo.

By the way, Korean scholars insisted that Usando (Josando) in the map in the formar post was Liancourt Rocks. But this can't be true if one thinks with a commonsense interpretation.

1904 Canadian Business Map of Japan

This is a large 1904 Map of Japan. It is from the Canadian version of Rand McNally Business Atlas. This atlas is very scarce as it was published for the purpose of shippers and businesses to get their goods to markets.

Please notice that the map was published in 1904, just before the incorporation of Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima) to Shimane prefecture of Japan, and four years after the Korean Edict #41. This is just an example of how the people of the world, especially international merchants and businessmen, looked at Japan and the islands in the Sea of Japan in those days.

Liancourt Rocks can be seen as Japanese territory. [Please click the left map to magnify] Also Taka Island (Argonaut island, a phantom island) and Matsu Island (Dagelet island, true Ulleungdo) were shown as Japanese territory. Although Matsu Island (Ulleungdo) was maistakenly depicted as Japanese island, maybe because of its Japanese name, it is important to know that Liancourt Rocks were not recognised as Korean territory. The same goes for many other western maps, I haven't seen a western map at all that depicted Liancourt Rocks to be Korean territory in late 19th century or in early 1900's. It maybe because it was a common sense in the world in those days that Korean eastern limit was Ulleungdo. It was also a common sense to Korean people as various geographical books, including Korean books, show.

http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2008/04/korean-eastern-limits-described-in.html

So the Korean claim that they had Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) before Japan's incorporation can't be true. Logical thinking may bring us to the conclusion that Seokdo in the 1900 Edict was not Dokdo.

http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2007/11/1900-imperial-edict-makes-ulleungdo.html

1905 - June 5 - Tokyo Asahi Shimbun Corrected "Liancourt Rocks" as "Takeshima"

Prof.Shin Yong-ha(1997) (cache) and other pro-Korean claim that Japanese government and Newspaper conspired to "keep secret" and "not to publish the fact Takeshima was formally incorporated into Shimane" in official gazette nor newspapers so that many Korean and other foreigners in Tokyo could not know the incorporation. But Tokyo Asahi Shimbun(東京朝日新聞), the former name of the Asahi Shimbun, which was one of the most popular newspapers in Japan and the paper reported a circulation of over 100 thousands copies on weekdays already in 1900, actually made correction of the name of the island from "Liancourt Rocks" in 30th May to "Takeshima" in 5th June, following the correction article of Official Gazette on a same day. Obviously, it was no secret for Japanese government nor newspaper at all and apparently the fact that Liancourt Rocks was now Japanese Takeshima was easily accessible to all the foreigners including many Korean in Tokyo.

According to Prof. Shin's delusional "conspiracy theory", "Japanese government didn't allow newspaper to publish the fact so that the "secret" could be kept from many Koreans rediding in Tokyo at the time". In other words, if Official Gazettes corrected the name of the island and newspapers like Tokyo Asahi Shimbun, one of the largest newspaper printed the corrected map clearly indicate Liancourt Rocks was now Japanese "Takeshima", Korean definately had noticed about the incorporation of so-called their island. Korean always say that Korea had no chance of protest since it had no diplomacy in 1906, but there were no trace of protests against these official gazettes and newspapers in spite of it was way before the the Second Korea-Japan Agreement (referred to in South Korea as the "Ulsa protectorate treaty") in November 1905, based on which Japan seized diplomatic sovereignty over the old Empire of Korea.

In fact, according to Prof. Shin, in October 1905, Korean did protest against Japanese when they noticed a Japanese tried to own the Korean land (江原道蔚珍郡竹辺浦), where Japanaese Imperial Navy built the watchtower and later removed it just like Takeshima. And Korean government succeeded in bringing back to Korea in April 1906 !! What about Takeshima/Dokdo? Why they didn't even made protest against Japanese active effective control on Ryanko-to(Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks) in early 1900's - 1905, in which Japanese had been hunting Sealions freely with some Korean hired, Navy investigating, building watchtowers and tearing down later or even after they finally found out that it was officially incorporated into Shimane in March 1906, just like they did to the land in 竹辺浦?

So, why Korean in Tokyo who were supposed to have read this newspaper and official gazette didn't protest the incorporation at all? The only answer is, well, very simple, I suppose, that Korean didn't considered it to be their territory at all. It is positively supported by the fact that in the June 2 edition of Korean newspaper "Hwangseong Shinmun"(皇城新聞), Korean actually called Liancourt Rocks as "Angohu島(island)=Liancourt island" which was same with Japanese called it, not Dokdo, Seokdo, Usando nor any other names Korean claim to be the old names for Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks afterall, and the fact in July 1906 Edition, they reported that Ministry of Interior officially replied to Japanese Govenor-General that Takeshima/Dokdo was out of Uld County , too.

(A lots of thanks to matsu, who told me where to find newpapers and Prof. Shin's article, and providing Japanese translations for us.)

Reference
1905 - May 30 - Tokyo Asahi Shimbun

1905 - June 05 - Tokyo Asahi Shimbun

1905 - January 28th: the decision to incorporate Takeshima in to Shimane by a Cabinet meeting （公文類集第29編 竹島編入閣議決定）

1905 - May 29 , 30 & June 5- An Extra of Official Gazette "The War Report of The Japan Naval Battle"

1905 - June 2 - 皇城新聞 : Korean called "Liancourt Rocks(リアンコルド岩)" as "Angohu島", not "Dokdo", Seokdo nor Usando.The 15th column " South Korea's
Groundless Claim of "Ingerent Part of (Korean) Territory"

1906 - July - Korea Omits Dokdo from Uldo County (皇城新聞 「鬱島郡의 配置顛末」)

1905 - May 29 , 30 & June 5- An Extra of Official Gazette "The War Report of The Japan Naval Battle"

To follow are the war reports of the Japan Naval Battle(日本海海戦), as known as The Battle of Tsushima (Strait), printed in the extra of official gazette(官報号外) in May 29, 30 and June 5, 1905.

There are two important points we should notice here. Firstly, Takeshima(竹島) was written as "リヤンコールド岩(Liancourt Rocks)" and "リアンコルド岩(Liancourt Rocks)" in the article no.3 and 5, respectively, even though this is the official report from Fleet Admiral Marquis Togo Heihachirou (東郷平八郎). It is apparent that none of Admiral Togo and his general staffs didn't even think of the new official name of the island and the incorporation of Takeshima(Liancourt Rocks) into Shimane determined by the Cabinet 4 month ago. In other words, for Japanese Imperial Navy, the whole process of the incorporation and the new naming of the island, regarding the question of the title to Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks, had nothing to do with their strategy of the Japan Naval Battle.

Pro-Korean scholars like Prof. Shin Yong-ha, Professor Emeritus Naito Seichu and Prof. Hosaka Yuji claims that "The fact that bureaucrats in responsible position in the government then lead the fishermen and worked up the incorporation of Dokdo/Takeshima by Imperial Japan into its own territory in order to win the war against Russia." "Especially, though those bureaucrats (Yamaza Enjiro(山座円次郎), the director of the state affairs of MOFA, Maki Naomasa(牧朴真), the director of the fishery division, Ministry of Agriculture and Economy, Kimotsuki Kaneyuki(肝付兼行) , a chief of Hydrograhical Department, Ministry of Navy) was in a position that are well aware of the fact that Dokdo/Liancourt Rocks is Korean territory, they apparently maneuvered the incorporation of the island into Shimane forcibly."　 However, there are no such "facts" as they say, at all, in fact. In addition, as this war report shows, it doesn't make sense that Commander-in-Chief of the Japan Naval Battle, Admiral Togo, who was in charge of the whole Japan Naval Battle, and his general staffs didn't even use the official name "Takeshima" newly determined by the "maneuvering" incorporation, if it is true that Meiji government and bureaucrats including the chief of Hydrograhical Department, Ministry of Navy really had such a detailed plan to incorporate the island for the purpose of the victory of the Japan-Russo war. It is apparent that Japanese Navy didn't take the issue of the title of the islands, such as Takeshima and Ulleungdo, into account seriously enough from the strategical point of view.

To begin with, Japan-Korea Protocol (Japanese Original) was already signed in 1904 and by the second issuer of the article 4, it allows Japanese government to use Korean territory freely for the purpose of military strategy. In other words, there is absolutely no necessity for Japanese government to incorporate any Korean land into Japan, hence it is apparent that sovereignty of those islands has nothing to do with the accomplishment for the victory over the Japan-Russo War. If "villainous Imperial Japan" really incorporated Takeshima into Shimane knowingly that it is Korean land, as today's Korean claims, why they didn't seize and incorporate Ulleungdo, which is far more important and valuable than Takeshima geographically and economically? What about other islets which Japan built watchtowers on, just like Takeshima? Even though lager numbers of Korean were living on Ulleungdo then, it was "vacant island" until 20 years ago, and there were more than 300 Japanese were actually living on Ulleungdo. Besides, Japanese did had effective control over the Ulleungdo during 1600s until Joseon government protested.

Secondly, in the last part of 5th June gazette, it corrected the name "Liancourt Rocks" to "Takeshima". This is the concrete evidence that reject flatly Korea's claim that the process of the incorporation was done "secretly" in 1905. According to Korean Prof. Shin, there were many Korean residents in Japan, especially, Tokyo, at the time, so it was easily accessible to those Koreans. In fact, Korean media like 皇城新聞 actually reported the contents of the report three days later, which is the translation of this war report, and it means Japanese official gazette was accessible to Korean directly or at second hand at least. If Japanese government really wanted to keep the incorporation secret from Korean, they shouldn't had allow Shimane prefecture to publish the news that Takeshima was officially named as "Takeshima" and that it came under the jurisdiction of the Okinoshima branch, or have informed the Okinoshima branch to this effect. These measures were carried in the newspapers of the day and were broadly publicized. Not to mention, they wouldn't have published in the official gazette the announcement of the correction of the name of the island which they wanted to keep "secret".

Pro-Korean like Mr. Park Byeong-seop(朴炳渉), a permanent Korean resident in Japan, who works for Korean government's Dokdo research center as a consultative committee member and the distributor of "Half-moon's newsletter", only discuss about the misuse of the name "Liancourt Rocks" in No.3 and No. 5, thoughtlessly said "Maybe, Ministry of the Navy and the government organ, which publish official gazette didn't know that Takeshima had already been incorporated into Japan and must have took it as a foreign territory. It is understandable, since the incorporation was executed "secretly" at the governmental level, that they didn't know the fact. " The territorial claim, based on such an arbitrary translation of selective resources which are favourable only to him, could become not only a factor which may obstruct normal Japan-Korea bilateral relation, but also a factor which would aggravate antipathy towards Zainichi Koreans, including himself, in Japan. He should stop spreading those illogical claims, right now.

An Extra of Official Gazette 29 May, 1905 (original Japanese version )

War Report

War Report of the Japan Naval Battle　 War report from the Admiral Togo Heihachiro, the Commander of the Grand Fleet(Combined Fleet), concerning for the Battle of the Sea of Japan, which has been undergoing since a day before (27th). (Ministry of Navy)

No.1 Received in the morning, 27th
Receiving the alarming that enemy vessel was seen, Grand Fleet put to sea instantly in order to beat this. Today, it is clear and fine, but swells high.

No.2 Received in the night, 27th
Grand Fleet crushed enemy fleet greatly near the Okinoshima today, and at least 4 enemy vessels went under water. We damaged other enemy vessels greatly. The damage of our fleet is small. The body of Destroyers and torpedo boats carried out attacking from sunset.

No.3 Received in the morning, 29th
Since 27th, the main force of Grand Fleet(連合艦隊) had continued running after the remaining enemy, and they faced and attacked, around Liancourt Rocks, the groups of the enemy vessels, Emperor Nikolai I(battleship), Orel(battleship), Senyavin(coastal battleship), Apraxin(coastal battleship), Izumrud(cruiser). Izumrud splitted and run away, but other fours surrendered soon after. Our fleet has no damages. According to the captives, the enemy vessels, which sunked during the battle on 27th, are Borodino(battleship), Emperor Alexander III(battleship), Zhemchug(cruiser).
The numbers of the prisoner of war sums up to 2,000, including Rear Admiral Nebogatov.

(Abbr.)

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

An Extra of Official Gazette 30 May, 1905 (original Japanese version )

War Report

Follow-up War Report of the Japan Naval Battle　 War report obtained afterward from the Admiral Togo Heihachiro, the Commander of the Grand
Fleet(Combined Fleet), concerning for the Battle of the Sea of Japan. (Ministry of Navy)

No.4 Received in the afternoon today, 30th
The naval battle, which undertook between near Okinoshima and Ulleungdo from 27th to 28th May, is going to be called " the Japan Naval Battle(日本海海戦 : The battle of the Sea of Japan)" .

No.5 ibid.
As it was already transferred, the most of Grand Fleet had encircled and attacked the main force of remaining enemy ship corps, defeated near at the Liancourt Rocks in the afternoon on 28th, and after their surrender, it stopped the pursuing and now engaging the dealing with the aftermath. Meanwhile, around 3 o'clock, we found, to the direction of south-west, another enemy battleship Admiral Ushakov running north, so armoured cruiser Iwate and Yakumo pursued it instantly and called on it to surrender. However, it didn't respond. So we bombered and sunked it against our will. We rescued and accomodated the approx. 300 survivors. ....

(Abbr.)

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

An Extra of Official Gazette 5 June, 1905 (original Japanese version )
War Report

Follow-up War Report of the Japan Naval Battle　 War report obtained afterward from the Admiral Togo Heihachiro, the Commander of the Grand Fleet(Combined Fleet), concerning for the Battle of the Sea of Japan. (Ministry of Navy)

(Abbr.)

Correction

"Liancourt Rocks" in the third article of this column, which is a war report of the war report of the Japan Naval Battle on 29th last month, and in the fifth article of the follow-up report on the 30th, respectively, are both going to be corrected as "Takeshima(竹島)".

Referece
1905 - June 2 - 皇城新聞 : Korean called "Liancourt Rocks(リアンコルド岩)" as "Angohu島", not "Dokdo", Seokdo nor Usando.The 15th column " South Korea's Groundless Claim of "Ingerent Part of (Korean) Territory"
Surely you are joking, Prof. Hosaka !　（ご冗談でしょう、保坂先生!）
1853-1922 - 肝付兼行 (Kimotsuki Kaneyuki)
1894年 - 海軍省水路部「朝鮮水路誌」(明治二十七年)

1905 June 15th: The Report of Takeshima (Liancourt Rocks) by the Captain of Hashidate

To follow is a report by the captain of naval ship "Hashidate", Fukui Masayoshi. The report is interesting because it mentioned that there were "several" barns (or huts) at Takeshima (Liancourt Rocks), not a single hut. And the barns were made by Japanese fishermen who lived there for the summertime. Food and water were supplied by a Japanese sailboat from Oki island once or twice a month, not from Ulleungdo. Although this report was made in 1905, they had kept this kind of seal hunting every year. This is one of the evidences that Japanese people controlled the islands in the early 20th century.
It is also very important to clarify that these fishermen were directly from Oki islands and they were supplied food and water from a ship from Oki islands, because some records mentioned that Japanese fishermen (hunters) went to Liancourt Rocks from Ulleungdo and pro-Korean scholars used to claim that "Japanese unlawfully stayed in Ulleungdo and went to Dokdo from Ulleungdo". But such a claim was not true.
The report also referred to Nakai Yozaburo (as Nakae Yozaburo) who made the petition to incorporate Liancourt Rocks. Nakai was the leader of the fishermen mentioned above.
http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2007/06/petition-to-incorporate-ryanko-to.html

Also, for more information about the inspection by Hashidate, please read the following:
http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2007/10/1905-jun-japanese-cruiser-surveys.html
..............

明治三十八年六月十五日橋立艦長海軍大佐福井正義ノ提出セル竹島視察報告

命ニ因リ明治三十八年六月十二日竹敷ヲ発シ十三日午後二時竹島東嶼ノ東端約一浬ニ達シテ漂泊シ即時端舟ヲ胤シ航海長小倉大尉及ヒ其ノ従属森田中尉ヲ派遣シ望楼設置適否ノ調査ヲ命ス　此ノ一行中ニハ豫テ佐世保鎮守府ヨリ派遣セル技手職工等ノ一行ヲ含有セリ右派遣将校ノ調査概要左ノ如シ

一、竹島ハ二座ノ列岩ヨリ成ル磽确不毛ノ小嶼ニシテ西方ニ位置スルモノハ大ニシテ且高シ（海面標高四百十呎）然レトモ四面皆断崖絶壁ニシテ攀登スヘカラス加之嶼上平坦ト認ムヘキ地ナク都テ峻険ナル岩峰屹立シ望楼設置ノ望絶エテナシ

東方ニ位置スルモノハ前者ヨリ稍低シト雖モ（三百二十五呎ヲ概測シ得タリ）峻険ノ度少シク緩ニ辛ウシテ攀登スルコトヲ得へク峡上皿状形ノ如キ稍平坦ナル地面アリテ多少ノ土工事ヲ施セハ造営物ヲ建設シ得ヘシ

一、建築材料ノ陸揚ケ竝ニ頂上ヘノ運搬ハ辛ウシテ為スコトヲ得先ツ陸揚場ニ就テ言ハンカ別紙見取略図ニ示スカ如ク東西ノニ嶼ハ四座ノ小立岩一條ノ礁脈ニ因リテ連結セラレ其ノ長サ約一鏈（水路誌ニハ二鏈半トアリ）礁上ノ水深二尋乃至三尋ニシテ優二小舟ヲ通スヘク叉四座ノ立岩ハ恰モ波濤堤ノ用ヲ為シ東嶼ヨリ西走スル突角ト相待テ小港ヲ形成シ小船舟ヲ繋継スルノ便アリ但偏西風二對シテハ全ク暴露シ船舟ヲ繋継スヘカラス

此ノ小曲湾ハ東嶼二對スル唯一ノ陸揚地點ニシテ濱岸小平地ニハ現二猟夫ノ結作セル数箇ノ納屋アリテ三十有餘人是二假住ス

山上へ材料ヲ運搬スルニハ「デリック」樣ノモノヲ以テスルヲ便利トスヘク断崖攀登ヲ要スル箇所ニハ策梯ヲ用フルモ亦一法ナランカ

一、西嶼頂上ヨリ落チ來ル一小流脈アレトモ鹽分多量ニシテ口ニスヘカラス且試験ノ結果到底飲料二適セサルコト別紙軍醫二依リテ為サレタル試験表ノ如シ

一、望楼員ノ副食二供スヘキ蔬菜培殖ノ如キモ無論不可能ナルヘシト信ス如何トナレハ峻上磽确ニシテ殆ト土壌ト名クヘキモノナク且降雨少ケレハナリ

以上ハ派遣将校ノ観察スル所ニシテ此ノ派遣中本艦ハ島ノ周囲約一浬ヲ隔テ一周ヲ試ミタレトモ別ニ暗礁等ノ觸目スルモノナカリヤ但東嶼ノ北東端ヨリ一鑛脈走出シ其ノ長サ約二鏈ト目測シ得タリ

本島ハ目下海驢（Seals）ノ獵季ニシテ隠岐國ヨリ渡來ノ獵夫（寧ロ漁夫ナラン）三十五六名二達シ小銃ト網器トヲ用ヒテ海驢ヲ捕フ其ノ獵獲ノ豊富ナル見ルニ足ルヘキモノアリ少時間ノ観察中彼等ヲ捉ヘテ談話セシ處亦参考ニ資スヘキ価値アルヲ以テ其ノ概要ヲ左ニ揚ク

本島ハ海驢獵ニ於ル一富場ニシテ獵者ハ陰暦四月中旬ヨリ七月中旬マテ駐在シ連日獵業ニ従事ス

海驢ヨリ得ル所ハ皮ト油トニシテ之ヲ大阪地方ニ送リ毎年ノ獲得金額四千圓乃至五千圓ナリト云フ

目下獵夫ノ指揮ヲ司ルモノハ隠岐國中江養三郎ナルモノニシテ本人ノ云フ所ニ依レハ若シ志願者アラハ本年ハ冬季モ駐在シテ本島ニ越年ヲ試ムルノ志願ヲ有スト

海驢ノ外少量ノ鮑ヲ収獲スト云フ

氣候ハ夏季ニ於テ日中酷暑ヲ感スルモ朝夕ハ極テ涼冷ヲ覺ユ最炎暑ヲ感スルハ舊六月ナリトス叉濕氣多クシテ降雨量ハ本土ニ比シ極テ少シ

附近潮流ハ北東流ナルカ如ク其ノ速力モ少ナカラス干満差ハ約四呎ナリ（報告者曰ク四呎ハ多キニ過タルカ如シト雖モ獵夫ノ言ニ謂フ故二姑ク疑ヲ存シ置ク）

本島ニハ薪水ナシ故ニ毎月一二回帆船ヲ以テ隠岐國トノ交通ヲ保チ糧食薪水其ノ他萬般ノ供給ヲ仰キ居ルト云フ

（別紙）

水分析表

臭　無シ　　　　　清濁及ヒ色　稍黄褐色僅微ノ浮遊殘渣

鹽素　多量　　　　石炭　僅微

安母尼亜　多量　　　硫酸　稍多量

亜硝酸　無シ　　硝酸　無シ

有機物　多量　　　摘要　飲料不適

Thanks to readers who helped me to read the old Chinese characters in the original document.

June 15^th, 1905. The Report about the Inspection of Takeshima (Liancourt
Rocks) presented by the captain Fukui Masayoshi of the Naval Ship Hashidate

................

As I was ordered, we departed Takeshiki on June 12^th 1905 and reached and
wandered at one nautical mile off east edge of the east islet of Takeshima (Liancourt
Rocks) at 2pm on the 13^th. Soon we lowered a boat and dispatched the
chief navigator Lieutenant Kokura (or Ogura) and his attendant Lieutenant Junior
Grade Morita and made them investigate whether the installation of watchtower is
adequate or not. The party included a group of engineers and mechanics who were
dispatched by the Sasebo Naval Defense Office. To follow is the summary of the
investigation by the officers we dispatched.

............

● Takeshima (Liancourt Rocks) is a barren small island which comprises two rock islets. The rock islet at west is bigger and higher (410 feet above sea level), but the
circumference forms a precipitous cliff and it is impossible to climb. There
is no flat space at the summit of the islet with towering steep rock peaks,
there is no hope to install a watchtower there.

The islet at east is slightly shorter than the former (it was measured as 325 feet). However, the slope is slightly gentle so that one can manage to climb up. There is a
slightly flat place just like a dish up there, it would be possible to build a house if we did a bit of construction work.

● The uploading and transport of building materials to the summit will be barely able. As to the uploading point, there is a good point as I showed a sketch on another sheet of paper. The two islets of both east and west are on a line along with four rocks
between them, the length of the line would be about one-ren (185 m) and the
depth of water on the reef between the islets would be 2 or 3 –hiro (3 or 4.5 m)
which would be easy for small boats to pass. The four rocks between the islets
work as if they were a breakwater and they form a little cove with a process of
the east islet which is protruding to west. One can moor boats there, although
it would be difficult when westerlies blow.

This little cove is the one and only uploading point, actually there are several barns which were made by hunters (fishermen) and more than thirty people live in the barns
temporarily.

Something like a derrick would be convenient to transport materials to the summit, and it may be good to use a rope ladder to climb the cliffs.

●There is a little stream running down from the summit of the west islet but one cannot
drink it because it contains a lot of salt. After the examination by a naval surgeon, the water is not fit to drink at all as the examination result shows which was written on another sheet of paper.

●I believe that cultivation of vegetables for side dishes for watchtower officials would be impossible because the land is sterile and pebbly without soil and we have a few rain here.

..........................................................................................................

The above are from what the officials we dispatched observed. During the dispatch we tried to make our ship go around the islands with keeping one nautical mile off from the
islands and found no reef there. However, there was a vein of reef running from
northeast side of the east islet and its length seems to be 2-ren (370 m) by eye
measurement.

It is a hunting season of seals at present at these islands. The number of hunters (maybe fishermen rather than hunters) is 35 or 36. They have rifles and nets to catch
seals. It is worth seeing theｍ catching such an abundant seals. I caught some of the hunters and had a conversation with them while we stayed there for a short time, it was worth mentioning. To follow is the summary of the information.

.....................

These islands are one of the largest hunting grounds of seals. The hunters (fishermen) reside at this place from mid-April until mid-July by the lunar calendar and engage in hunting day after day.

The main products made from seals are skin and oil. They are sent to Osaka district, which makes \4,000 or \5,000 of money per year.

The man who directs the hunters now is a man named Nakae [sic] Yozaburo from Oki county. According to him, he would try to make some of the hunters pass this winter at
the islands if there would be volunteers.

They get a little of abalones in addition to seals.

As to the climate, although they feel terrible heat during the daytime in summer, they
feel coolness in the morning and in the evening. The hottest month is June by
the old calendar. It is moist but they have very few rain compared to the mainland.

The tide around the islands seems to be directed to northeast and flows rapidly. There is a great range of tides. The difference between the tidemarks is about four feet
(a reporter says that although it seems that four feet is too much but it was
hunters’ opinion so we have to keep it untouched).

They have neither firewood nor water in these islands. So they keep communicating with a sailing boat to Oki county once or twice in a month in order to be supplied
food, firewood, water and another things.

........................................

(Another sheet of paper)

Analysis of water

Odour: none. Turbidity and colour: slight yellowish brown, a little floating
leavings.

Clorine: much. Lime: a little.

Ammonia: much. Sulfuric acid: relatively much.

Nitrous acid: none. Nitric acid: none.

Organic matter: much.

Summary: Not fit to drink.