1897 American map of Japan and Korea

The non-existent island of Argonaut usually does not appear on American maps in the late 19^th century, especially in the 1890’s, but, for some reason, Argonaut reappears on American maps in the early 20^th century as “Taka Shima” or “Taka island,” or sometimes as “Tako-shimo.” These names are different spellings for the Japanese name, Takeshima (竹島). For example, a map published in Chicago in 1900 has the name of “Taka Isl.,” a map published in Buffalo in 1902 has “Taka Shima,” a map published in New York in 1904 has “Argonaut I. (Tako Shimo),” and another map published in Chicago in 1904 has “Taka I.”

If you would like to see the above maps and others, you can go to http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/, which is a site introduced by Kaneganese.

Most American maps in the 1890’s do not show the name "Taka Shima," but there are some exceptions. Here is an American map of Japan and Korea that was published in 1897, entitlted “THE CENTURY ATLAS. JAPAN AND KOREA.” The copyright credit as 1897, The Century Co., New York. The map featured Taiwan (Formosa) as Japanese territory, which was consistent with the fact that Japan acquired Taiwan in 1895 through the Treaty of Shimonoseki, after the Sino-Japanese War.

If you look at the islands in the Sea of Japan, you can see three islands labeled as “Taka Shima”, “Matsu Shima” and “Hornet Is. (Liancourt Rocks).” Taka Shima is shown smaller than Matsu Shima, which apparently meant to be the Korean island of Ulleungdo’s. That means that the Taka Shima on the map was the non-existent island of Argonaut, which was a mismapping of Ulleungdo by a Bristish naval vessel named "Argonaunt. The islands were colored in greenish yellow, which indicates they were considered to be Japanese territory. Korean territory was colored pink. Since the map incorrectly shows Ulleungdo as Japanese territory and the non-existent island of Argonaut, is shows that even the Americans were confused about the islands in the Sea of Japan.

The fact that the Americans used the Japanese names for Argonaut (Take Shima) and Ulleungdo (Matsu Shima) suggests that they may have shown those territories to be Japanese based simply on the fact that they had Japanese names.

In 1876, Mutoh Heigaku wrote in his “Argument for the Development of Matsushima” that an American merchant living in Vladivostok told him that Matsushima was Japan’s territory. Hornet island (Liancourt Rocks) had lost its Japanese name, but it was always drawn as Japanese territory. As Watanabe Kouki wrote in 1878, “All foreign maps indicate that Hornet Rocks belong to our country.” http://dokdo-or-takeshima.blogspot.com/2008/06/1892-german-made-map-of-east-asia.html

Therefore, this American map is more evidence that Liancourt Rocks was considered to be Japanese territory in 1897, just three years before Korean Edict 41 made Ulleungdo and its neighboring islands of Jukdo (竹島) and Seokdo (石島) a county of Gangwon Province. There are no Korean, Japanese, or Western maps that support the Korean claim that the Seokdo in the imperial edict was Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks).

1894 (1897) German map of Japan and Korea

(double click to enlarge)

Here is a map titled "JAPAN UND KOREA", which was published in Leipzig, Germany. I have two versions of the same map, I was told by a mapseller that one was published in 1897 while I was told the other was published in 1894. It seems that it is reasonable to think that the map was first published in 1894 and then it may have been reprinted in later years again, because it didn't include Taiwan (Formosa island) which Japan acquired in 1895 after the Sino-Japanese War.

Anyway, the territories are shown in colour; Japan in red, Korea in yellow, China in orange. Please take a look at the islands in the Sea of Japan (Japanishches Meer) - Ulleungdo is drawn as "Matsu-shima (Dagelet I.)" and Liancourt Rocks as "Liancourt In. (Hornet In.)". These are painted in red - the colour which indicates Japan's territory. Oki island is drawn as "Oki-shima". This map is another circumstantial evidence that Seokdo in the 1900 Ordinance #41 can't be Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks).

1892 German Map of East Asia

In 1878, Watanabe Kouki, Director of the Bureau of Documents the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), wrote the following about Matsushima (Liancourt Rocks) in a document entitled "Argument concerning Matsushima" (Matsushima No Gi).

“Our Matsushima (Liancourt Rocks) seems to be called Hornet
Rocks in the West. It also seems that Europeans recognize Takeshima (Ulleungdo) as Matsushima and, furthermore, imagine another island with the name of Takeshima. And all the foreign maps indicate that Hornet Rocks belong to our country” (Watanabe Kouki)

我松嶋ナル者ハ洋名ホルネットロックスナルカ如シ然ルヲ洋客竹嶋ヲ認テ松嶋ト為シ更ニ竹嶋ナル者ヲ想起セシ者ノ如シ而テ此ホルネットロックスノ 我国ニ属スルハ各国ノ地図皆然リ

Notice that Watanabe referred to Liancourt Rocks as "our Matsushima" (我松嶋), which he said was referred to as "Hornet Rocks" in the West. He also said that Europeans referred to Takeshima (Ulleungdo) as Matsushima, and used "Takeshima" to refer to another island, which was almost certainly the non-existent island of "Argonaut." This is evidence that Japanese, and even Europeans, in 1878 considered Liancourt Rocks (Matsushima) to be Japanese territory. It is also evidence that there were two Matsushimas. One was Japan's Matsushima (Liancourt Rocks), and the other was the European's Matsushima (Ulleungdo). Watanabe seemed to understand quite well the island name confusion in the Sea of Japan.

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The map to the right was taken from a book entitled "Meyers Kleiner Handatlas," which was published in Leipzig, Germany in 1892. The title of the map is "CHINA UND JAPAN," but it also includes Korea and Mongolia. The territories of these countries are defined by color. Chinese territory is shown in red, Japanese territory in greenish yellow, and Korean territory in brown.

(1892 was two years before the Sino-Japanese War and eight years before the 1900 Ordinance #41, which mentioned Seokdo.)

This is the close-up of the islands between the Korean peninsula and the Japanese mainland. Ulleungdo was labeled as "Matsu S. (Dagelet I.)" and Liancourt Rocks as "Liancourt In." The non-existent island of Argonaut does not appear on the map. The location of these islands seems to be quite accurate.

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Notice that Ulleungdo Matsu S. (Dagelet I.) and Liancourt Rocks were colored in green, which was the color used for Japanese territory. This suggests that the mapmaker believed "Matsushima" (Ulleungdo) and Liancourt Rocks to be Japanese territory. Since Ulleungdo was Korean territory at the time, it seems that the mapmaker simply associated the name "Matsushima" with Japanese territory. This map supports Watanabe Kouki's 1878 claim that Europeans believed Liancourt Rocks to be Japanese territory.

Good Satellite Image of Ulleungdo

(Double click to enlarge)

Link to some high-resolution satellite photos of Ulleungdo

Great Copy of Bak Seok-chang's 1711 Map of Ulleungdo

I do not know if anyone noticed, but Steve Barber has supplied us with an excellent copy of Bak Seok-chang's (朴錫昌) 1711 survey map of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島圖形), which clearly shows Usando (所謂 于山島) as a neighboring island. Moreover, the map also describes Usando as having "fields of haejang bamboo" (海長竹田), which eliminates any possibility that Usando was Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima) since Liancourt Rocks were just barren rocks without the soil needed to grow bamboo. In fact, Korea's Dokdo Museum Director has admitted that the Usando on this map and others were Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島), which is about 2.2 kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. (See HERE) The map also shows in the middle of the island the three prominent peaks of Ulleungdo, which earned it the nickname, "Sambongdo" (三峯島 - "Island of Three Peaks").

Anyway, thank you, Steve, and I hope others express their appreciation, as well.

(Double click on the map to see an extra large version.)

1884 - 1894 Map of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) & Usando (于山島)

Below are maps of Gangwon Province (江原道) and Samcheok Dohobu (三陟都護府), which includes a map of of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島). Off the east shore of Ulleungdo is an island labeled as "Usan" (于山), which was almost certainly Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島). Jukdo is about 2.2 kilometers off the east shore of Ulleungdo. The maps come from the Korean atlas pictured on the left, which is stored in the Koryo University Library.

The Koryo University Web site says the atlas was made sometime between 1835 and 1894, but I think it can easily be dated between 1884 and 1894.

If you look at the Gangwon Province map below, you will see a list of Gangwon Province official titles on the map. Among the officials listed was the "Ulleungdo-jang" (鬱陵島長 - Ulleungdo Chief), which I have circled in red. Next to it was written "Pyeonghae, Samcheok-po Jin" (平海三三陟浦鎭). This is the clue to the date of the map since the position of "Ulleungdo-jang" was not established until 1883. Moveover, we may be able to pinpoint the date even closer based on the fact that "Pyonghae" (平海) and "Samcheok-po Jin" (三陟浦鎭) were written next to "Ulleungdo-Jang," which suggests that the Ulleungdo-Jang came from Samcheok-po Jin.

In 1884, the duties of Ulleungdo-Jang was transferred from low ranking officials dispatched to Ulleungdo to the Samcheok Commander (三陟營將) and then to the "Pyeonghae County Head" (平海郡守). However, during this time the title of "Ulleungdo-Jang" (鬱陵島長) was changed to "Ulleungdo-Cheomsa" (鬱陵島僉使). The title of Ulleungdo-Jang (鬱陵島長) was not reestablished until 1888, when the duties were handed over to the "Manho" (萬戶) at Weolsong-jin (越松鎭), which was in Pyeonghae County (平海郡). The position of "Ulleungdo-Jang" (鬱陵島長) continued until 1895, when it was upgraded to "Ulleungdo-Gam" (鬱陵島監 - Island Supervisor). That means the map would have had to been made sometime between 1884 and 1895.

Based on the fact that "Samcheok-po Jin" (三陟浦鎭), instead of "Weolsong-jin" (越松鎭), was written next to "Ulleungdo-Jang" (鬱陵島長), and on the fact that the map appears with a map of Samcheok Dohobu (三陟都護府), the map seems to have been made between 1884 and 1888. Even though the official title during that time period was "Ulleungdo-Cheomsa" (鬱陵島僉使), "Ulleungdo-Jang" (鬱陵島長) could have still been used as an unofficial title, or the mapmaker could have just made a mistake and used the old title. At any rate, the map was made after 1884.

The significance of this map is that it shows Ulleungdo with a neighboring island labeled as Usan (于山) rather than the Jukdo (竹島) that Lee Gyu-won found during his inspection in 1882. That suggests that inspectors discovered that the neighboring island was being called both Jukdo and Usando. It also means that this was the last Korean map of Ulleungdo, which is still known to still exist, to have been made before Korea's 1900 Imperial Edict 41, which made the main island of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) and its neighboring islands of Jukdo (竹島) and Seokdo (石島) a county of Gangwon Province.

The 9th column “Seeking Truth Based Solely on Facts(実事求是)” by Prof. Shimojo Masao

Below is a translation of The 9th column “Seeking Truth Based Solely on Facts(実事求是)” by Prof. Shimojo Masao

"Criticism on Dokdo Research Center”

In April 16, Dokdo Research Center under the Korea Maritime Institute(韓国海洋水産開発院) has released a document entitled “Does Dokdo Really Belong to Japan? - Refutation against the Japanese MOFA's claims." ("The Analysis of the Pending Problem of the Maritime Fishery") This refutation itself, however, turned out to be the valuable evidence that Korean themselves proved "Dokdo" was not Korean territory. Because, in the last part of the document, the Dokdo Research Center said, “Japan’s move is tantamount to denying Korea’s complete liberation and independence and justifying its colonialist acts.”, and this comment in fact is the biggest fabrication of all.

Japanese territories such as Kuril Islands, South Karafuto(Sakhalin) and Northern Territories were deprived by the Soviet Union, and Takeshima by South Korea after the end of World War II. In 1952, South Korea drew illegal "Lee Sung-man Line" and nearly 3,000 innocent Japanese fishermen were seized and detained. South Korea used those civilian hostages as a diplomatic card for achieving relinquishment of the Japanese property claim in Korea and legal status of the Korean residents in Japan forcefully admitted from Japan in the process of normalization talks between two parties. Those historical facts are literally concealed in Korea and every time Takeshima issue comes up, Korean brings up "colonial rule before WWII" and try to justify their own act of territorial aggression against Japan. On the contrary, Korea's territorial ambition doesn't stop in Takeshima, but even go further for Japanese historical sovereign island Tsushima(対馬) and northeastern part of China(間島 : Koryo history issue). “Northeast Asian History Foundation" had lead this territorial aggression in the former President Noh's era and this time, "Korea Maritime Institute" took over the role in the new administration.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan made a issue of the fact that Korea has no historic title nor original title for Takeshima/Dokdo. They pointed out the notation(分註) "Yojiji says that Ulleun and Usan are all Usanguk. Usan is so-called Japanese Matsushima (輿地志云 鬱陵 于山 皆于山國地 于山則倭所謂松島也 )" from "Dongguk Munheon Bigo Yojigo(東国文献備考・與地考)"(1770) which quoted "Dongguk Yojiji(東国輿地志)" by Ryu Hyung-won(柳馨遠). (See here.) Korean has been used this notation as a basis for their claim that Usando is Takeshima/Dokdo and is a part of Ulleundo. However, the sentences in original document, which were found recently, turned out in fact, to actually be stating "It is said that Usan and Ulleung were originally one island (一説干山 鬱陵 本一島)", thus Korean logic has completely collapsed.

Dokdo Research Center refuted that Usando and Ulleundo are considered to be different islands in "Dongguk Yojiji". However, that is a makeshift for covering up the collapse of the basis for their claim that Takeshima/Dokdo is Usando and it is Ulleundo's adjacent island. The real point is the fact that the compiler of "Dongguk Munheon Bigo Yojigo" quoted only one sentence "It is said that Usan and Ulleung were originally one island(一説干山 鬱陵 本一島)" from Yojiji and inserted "Usando is so-called Japanese Matsushima(于山則倭所謂松島也)" to alter the text. Then why do Korean persist in this apparently fabricated notation?

The reason is, this altered part of notation was based on the testimony by Ahn Young-bok(安龍福 ). Pak(朴錫昌) annotated this as "so-called Usando(所謂于山島)" on the map "欝陵島図形" in 1711, and 鄭尚驥, 金正浩 and others all followed this labelling and made the island Usando. Thus, Korean side has been claiming this island as today's Dokdo. However, "so-called Usando" is not Takeshima/Dokdo in the first place. The "so-called Usando" is Jukdo(竹島 in Korean, 竹嶼 in Japanese) which Kitazawa Masanari (北沢正誠) identified as "Takeshima(竹島)" in his book "A Study of Historical Evidence of Takeshima (竹島考証)(1881) and Lee Gyu-won labelled as "竹島". In other words, Takeshima/Dokdo was put outside of Choson (Korean) territory.

Against all those negative facts, Korean still claims "Seokdo(石島)" in Korean Imperial Ordinance No.41 in 1900 as Takeshima/Dokdo without any reliable basis. The name "Dokdo" was started to be used by Korean residents on Ulleundo who were hired by Japanese to go hunting on today's Takeshima around 1904. Before that, it was called as Japanese name "Ryanko (Yanko) = Liancourt". The name "独島" that was just started to be called in 1904 cannot be the root of the name of the island which was defined as "石島" in 1900. Dokdo Research Center apparently shot their own foot, since "Ryanko-to" was placed outside of Korean territory even at the point of 1900.

Naming "Ryanko-to" as "Takeshima" and incorporating the island which there were no trace of occupied by other countries(無主の地), into Japanese territory is absolutely no aggression at all. However, the Korean government's activity of keeping illegal invade and occupation of Takeshima, the Japanese territory, since 1954 is the one which should be called as "a territorial aggression", apparently.

“実事求是　〜日韓のトゲ、竹島問題を考える〜 第9回　韓国独島研究センター批判　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)."

Japan's Immature Relations with China & S. Korea

Daily Yomiuri: "POLITICAL PULSE / Difficulty with the neighbors / Immature relations with China, S. Korea underline need for more work," by Tetsuya Harada

1800s? Joseon Map & Ulleungdo's "Udo" (于島)

Below is an 1800s map of Korea called "Jeop-yeok Jeondo" (鰈域全圖 - 접역전도). "Jeop-yeok" was another name for Korea. The map is stored in the United States Library of Congress.

In the top left corner of the map is the writing you see in the scan on the left. Here is the translation:

.....有明朝鮮輿地圖
.....The famous "Joseon Yeojido"

.....鰈域全圖
.....Full map of Jeop-yeok (Joseon)

.....東西千里不足
.....Less than 1,000 ri from east to west

.....南北三千有竒
.....3,000 from north to south

The really interesting thing about the map is that it shows an island off the east shore of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) labeled as "Udo" (于島), which was another way of writing "Usando" (于山島). Usando was the old name for Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島), which is approximately 2.2 kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore. That is interesting because it links this map to two other old Korean maps of Ulleungdo that labeled Ulleungdo's neighboring islands of Jukdo (竹島) and Gwaneumgdo (觀音島) as "Big Udo" (大于島) and "Small Udo" (小于島), respectively. The maps are also posted below.

The writing on the map just below Ulleungdo and "Udo" (Usando) reads, "600 ri due east" (正東六百里), which seems to have been a referrence to the distance from the Joseon capital to the east coast.

Below are two more Korean maps of Ulleungdo that show Ulleungdo with neighboring islands labeled as "Big Udo" (大于島) and "Little Udo" (小于島). "Big Udo" was referring to Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島), and "Small Udo" was referring to Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Gwaneumdo (觀音島). The fact that there were two Udo's suggests that Koreans were unsure of which of the islands was the Usando (于山島) labeled on earlier maps. The fact that all three maps refer to Ulleungdo's neighboring island or islands as "Udo" (于島), instead of Usando (于山島), suggests that the maps were probably made within a few decades of each other.

The first map just below, which you can also see HERE, is stored in Korea's Samcheok Museum. The second map is stored in the National Library of Korea. In the first map, Ulleungdo is drawn upside down, so you need to look for the two islands on the left side of the Ulleungdo. (Click twice on the maps to enlarge.)



Did Koreans elect another lamebrain president?

With all the problems Korea and the rest of the world are facing right now, why does Korea have to make "Dokdo" the focus of Korea-Japan relations, especially since President Lee promised he would not be as lamebrained about history as Roh Mu-hyun was?

"Dokdo issue may put shuttle diplomacy with Japan in jeopardy"

The best thing Korea could do in regard to Dokdo is to shut up about it. Even if she wants to continue to sit on the islets, she would be stupid to make Dokdo a news item again since Korea's claims on Dokdo are total falsehoods. Too many non-Koreans know the truth now, and more and more are learning it everyday, so why would Korea risk losing more international credibility by making Dokdo an issue, again? I think Korea sacrifices her international credibility just to keep her crazy nationalists happy.

If Korea and her historians continue to make their ridiculous claims about Dokdo, their credibility will be shot to hell in the international community, and it could get to where no one will believe anything a Korean has to say about anything, but especially about history. Personally, I used to love to browse Korean bookstores and buy Korean history books, but now I consider browsing and buying Korean history books a waste of time and money. Now, I think the only way people can learn the truth about Korean history is to go back and read the original documents, themselves, because, based on the way I have seen them deal with the Dokdo issue, Korean historians can no longer be trusted to tell the truth.

There is almost no way that Korean historians cannot know the truth about Dokdo, so why do they continue to hide and manipulate the truth? Because they are shameless propagandists who put nationalism above the truth. Even the Korean historians who keep quiet on the issue should be ashamed of themselves because their silence means they are not true historians.

The 8th column “Seeking Truth Based Solely on Facts(実事求是)” by Prof. Shimojo Masao

Below is a translation of The 8th column “Seeking Truth Based Solely on Facts(実事求是)” by Prof. Shimojo Masao

"The Historical Facts”

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a pamphlet "10 Issues of Takeshima" in February, 2008. Yonhap News Agency in South Korea reported, "Takeshima is a Japanese territory in new Japan-South Korea relations" on the eighth of April, a day before the general election for Korean new president, and many South Korean media followed this.

Mr. Park Byeong-seop(朴炳渉), a permanent Korean resident in Japan, who works for Dokdo research center in South Korea as a consultative committee member and the distributor of "Half-moon's newsletter", objected against this pamphlet.

Mr. Pak claimed that Dajokan's order(太政官指令) in 1877, "Takeshima and another island, Japan has nothing to do with them.(竹島外一島本邦関係之無し)" is the most notable among all, despite this, there were no mention of Dajokan order in it, which was disappointing." He speculate the reason of this as "It must be inconvenient documents and planned not to be open to public, or they didn't reach the conclusion how to make the fact disclosed in and out?".

Mr. Pak assert that this is "Achilles' heel" for Japanese MOFA who claimes that Takeshima is clearly an inherent territory of Japan, because there is a description "This other island is thought to have been the present-day Takeshima." in the 161st Takeshima feature of 'Photo Stripes of Shimane(フォトしまね) ".

However, "the Dajokan Order" in 1877 is not "Achilles' heel" at all as Mr. Pak understand, because Shimane Prefecture actually avoided to conclude, but only "assumed" that it "thought" to have been present-day Takeshima. As a matter of fact, Matsushima as "another island" in Dajoukan order turned out to be today's Ulleundo three years later (1880), and "Takeshima" in the order was identified as today's Jukdo which locates 2km east of Ulleundo until 1881. Besides, though "A Rough Sketch of Isotakeshima(磯竹島略図)", which is a shrinked copy of Ohya clan's map in Kyoho era by Shimane prefecture, in "Kobunroku", which is a compilation of related documents, depict Ulleundo as Isotakeshima and today's Takeshima as Matsushima, the maps in 1870's usually depicted non-exisitant Takeshima(Argonaut) along with Matsushima=Ulleundo(Daglet). The locations and names of the islands were complicated back then.

It was 1881 when such a caotic complication was disentangled and the "another island" was confirmed to be Ulleundo by the book "A Study of Historical Evidence of Takeshima (竹島考証)" and "Consideration about the dominium of Takeshima(竹島版図所属考)" by Kitazawa Masanari (北沢正誠) who was ordered to investigate the issue by MOFA's oreder. In that documents, Kitazawa concluded that Matsushima is Ulleundo, which is "historically outside of Japanese territory" and Takeshima is Jukdo which locates about 2km east of Ulleundo, and stated "There is 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(北方小島竹島ト称スル者アレ共一個ノ巌石ニ過サル旨ヲ知リ、多年ノ疑義一朝氷解セリ)."

This Japanese geographical rcognition in 1881 was followed by Lee Gyu-won's "The map of outside Ulleundo (欝陵島外図)", who invetigated on Ulleundo in 1882. The small island, which was labelled as "so-called Usando" in "the map of Ulleundo" by the clean-up commander, Pak Chang-seok (朴錫昌) in 1711 was labelled as "竹島(Jukdo in Korean, 竹嶼 in Japanese)" and is still called as it is.

How does Mr.Pak explain this historical facts? Contrary to his belief, Dajokan order is not "Achilles' heel" at all in the Takeshima/Dokdo debate. The misdirected criticism, which ignores the historical process and the transition of the historical fact after ages, is the real "Achilles' heel"ish behaviour. " It would not deserve to be the called as "historical research" at all, if the researcher keeps selective attitude towards historical documents and deductive interpretation of them which were arbitrary selected.

This kind of phenominun is also seen in the four books which Northeast Asia History Foundation recently published. Those books were written on the presupposition of the "Japanese Invasion."

However, the historical fact is, it is actually Korea, who has any historical grounds for claiming sovereignty over Takeshima/Dokdo, who had illegally invaded and occupied Japanese Takeshima and never stops fabricating groundless history so that they can keep deceiving international society.

“実事求是　〜日韓のトゲ、竹島問題を考える〜 第8回　歴史の事実"　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)."

1996 CIA Map of Japan

Below is a administrative map of Japan made by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1996. The map is housed in the United States Library of Congress.

Notice that the map shows "Liancourt Rocks" (Dokdo/Takeshima) as part of Japan's Shimane Prefecture (37), without any mention of Korea's claim on them. In contrast, Japan's northern islands are described on the map as, "Occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, administered by Russia, claimed by Japan."

Teaching English with Dokdo Propaganda

Here is a link to an English lesson for Koreans who want to be able to tell English-speaking foreigners that "Dokdo is Korean territory." The video is assuming foreigners are ignorant of the facts, which, of course, most are.

Link to the Video

1700s? - Korean Atlas "Yojido"

Below are maps of Korea (朝鮮摠島) and Gangwon Province (江原道) from the Korean atlas "Yojido." Both the full map of Korea and the map of Gangwon Province show the Korean island of "Gansando" (干山島) off the east shore of "Ulleungdo" (鬱陵島). "Gansando" (干山島) was one of the misspellings for "Usando" (于山島). The map is stored HERE in the US Library of Congress.

Notice that the Gangwon Province map shows Ulleungdo kind of hugging Usando, which may have been done to emphasize the fact that Usando was a neighboring island of Ulleungdo. Later maps of Ulleungdo would move Usando to off Ulleungdo's "east" shore, in a position indicating it was Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島), which is about 2.2 kilometers off Ulleungdo's east shore.

Japanese Government Bows to Korea on Takeshima

It seems like the people governing Japan at the moment are a bunch of inconsistent, Korean-ass-kissing pussies. Teaching Japanese children the truth of Takeshima should be an uncompromising responsibility of the Japanese government. Takeshima should not be the focus of Korea-Japan relations, but it also should not be ignored in Japanese schools. Not teaching the truth of Takeshima for fear of Korean displeasure is an extremely cowardly act.

Here is a link to a May 28, 2008 article from "Kyodo News":

"Schools to skip row on Takeshima"

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.