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Old Korean Hand Atlases
- By The Map Collector
- Published 1 September 1978
- Maps
- Unrated
As the late Japanese cartophile, Hiroshi Nakamura, pointed out in an article written in 1934 and published in Imago Mundi in 1948 [7] the wood-block versions of the hand atlases are more valuable than the manuscript versions partly because the wood-block atlases may be classified. He made a classification of thirteen varieties depending on the size of the atlas, the maps within it and the technique used in printing them. Because the wood-block atlases are usually not so colourful the prices for them are apt to be lower than for the hand-copied versions, particularly the prices paid by less sophisticated buyers.
This undated map of Korea was copied from a Korean geographical encyclopaedia map of 1481, or a later edition of 1530.
It shows the eight provinces into which Korea was divided early in the Yi dynasty.
Because of their anonymous production over the centuries the Korean atlases are very difficult to date, though an individual atlas may be dated by marginal notes or by introductory statements made by copyists or owners. The seals of previous owners stamped on the atlas may also be used to date and give provenance to an individual atlas. Perhaps the simplest dating procedure is to judge the age of the paper on which the maps are printed or drawn, but this is not too precise. Through detailed study of individual maps of provinces some approximate dating is possible by the noting of royal grave sites or of certain county seats, but this can only provide a date after which an atlas was drawn, rather than a precise date of its preparation.
Because of their interest old Korean hand atlases have been reproduced in whole or in part for scholars and collectors outside Korea. One of the most elaborate reproductions was made in 1896 in Paris with a description by Henri Cordier. [8] This was based on a manuscript atlas held by the British Museum. This seems to have been a costly enterprise for the reproduction of an undistinguished copy of an atlas similar to those easily obtainable in Korea at the time. As is apt to happen, copies of this French reproduction are now very scarce and expensive.
The world map, the Ch 'onhado, which is a feature of the Korean hand atlases, has been reproduced many times in articles and books on Korean cartography. It has even been used as a Christmas greeting card.[9] A number of Ch 'onhado, or world maps, of different styles as well as other maps from the Korean hand atlases are reproduced in an excellent book by Chan Lee on Old Maps of Korea, Seoul, 1977. [10]
The origin of Korean hand atlases is difficult to ascertain, though it is likely that they first came in to use in the early part of the Yi Dynasty. There are varying opinions on the origin of the Ch 'onhado but it seems to have been developed between 1100 and 1400. Hiroshi Nakamura considered it of Chinese origin, though it was not perpetuated in China. [11] Chan Lee, Professor of Geography at Seoul National University, considers the Ch 'onhado to be Korean in origin, [12] yet it is full of names of mythical places derived from Chinese classics. The map of Korea and of the provinces of Korea which make up most of the contents of the hand atlases are usually identical with those in the Tongguk Yoji Sungnam (Geographical Encyclopedia of Korea) which was first compiled in 1481 and revised again in 1486, 1499 and 1530. [13] The maps of Japan and of the Liu Chiu Kingdom are distorted and are derived from maps in the Haedong Chegukki, a book describing the geography of Japan and other areas in East Asia written by a Korean scholar, Sin Suk-chu, in 1471. 14 It would appear, therefore, that the prototypes of the Korean hand atlases were made in the late 1400's.
A segment of P'yongan Province copper engraved map from the Tae hosing Chosonguk Chondo of 1896. It represents the north western part of Korea and shows the guard posts along the Yalu River, the coast and in certain strategic interior locations. The inclusion of this type of military information on a provincial map was only done in the last part of the Yi dynasty.
The atlases preserved their early form throughout the Yi Dynasty, long after more accurate maps of the world, the Far East and Korea, were available. In some of the atlases made in the latter half of the period the CIl 'onhado, the world map, has lines purporting to show parallels and meridians superimposed on the map. [15] The famous Korean cartographer, Chong Sang-gi (1678-1752), broke away from the restrictions of the size of the paper sheets and started using scales on his provincial maps, the Tongguk Chido of circa 1730. [16] However, the tradition of the provincial maps of Korea derived from the Tongguk Yoji Sungnam was so strong that the provincial maps continued to be used in the hand atlases even to the time of a well-known atlas, the Tae Chosonguk Chondo, printed from copper plates in 1896. [17]
This undated map of Korea was copied from a Korean geographical encyclopaedia map of 1481, or a later edition of 1530.
It shows the eight provinces into which Korea was divided early in the Yi dynasty.
Because of their anonymous production over the centuries the Korean atlases are very difficult to date, though an individual atlas may be dated by marginal notes or by introductory statements made by copyists or owners. The seals of previous owners stamped on the atlas may also be used to date and give provenance to an individual atlas. Perhaps the simplest dating procedure is to judge the age of the paper on which the maps are printed or drawn, but this is not too precise. Through detailed study of individual maps of provinces some approximate dating is possible by the noting of royal grave sites or of certain county seats, but this can only provide a date after which an atlas was drawn, rather than a precise date of its preparation.
Because of their interest old Korean hand atlases have been reproduced in whole or in part for scholars and collectors outside Korea. One of the most elaborate reproductions was made in 1896 in Paris with a description by Henri Cordier. [8] This was based on a manuscript atlas held by the British Museum. This seems to have been a costly enterprise for the reproduction of an undistinguished copy of an atlas similar to those easily obtainable in Korea at the time. As is apt to happen, copies of this French reproduction are now very scarce and expensive.
The world map, the Ch 'onhado, which is a feature of the Korean hand atlases, has been reproduced many times in articles and books on Korean cartography. It has even been used as a Christmas greeting card.[9] A number of Ch 'onhado, or world maps, of different styles as well as other maps from the Korean hand atlases are reproduced in an excellent book by Chan Lee on Old Maps of Korea, Seoul, 1977. [10]
The origin of Korean hand atlases is difficult to ascertain, though it is likely that they first came in to use in the early part of the Yi Dynasty. There are varying opinions on the origin of the Ch 'onhado but it seems to have been developed between 1100 and 1400. Hiroshi Nakamura considered it of Chinese origin, though it was not perpetuated in China. [11] Chan Lee, Professor of Geography at Seoul National University, considers the Ch 'onhado to be Korean in origin, [12] yet it is full of names of mythical places derived from Chinese classics. The map of Korea and of the provinces of Korea which make up most of the contents of the hand atlases are usually identical with those in the Tongguk Yoji Sungnam (Geographical Encyclopedia of Korea) which was first compiled in 1481 and revised again in 1486, 1499 and 1530. [13] The maps of Japan and of the Liu Chiu Kingdom are distorted and are derived from maps in the Haedong Chegukki, a book describing the geography of Japan and other areas in East Asia written by a Korean scholar, Sin Suk-chu, in 1471. 14 It would appear, therefore, that the prototypes of the Korean hand atlases were made in the late 1400's.
A segment of P'yongan Province copper engraved map from the Tae hosing Chosonguk Chondo of 1896. It represents the north western part of Korea and shows the guard posts along the Yalu River, the coast and in certain strategic interior locations. The inclusion of this type of military information on a provincial map was only done in the last part of the Yi dynasty.
The atlases preserved their early form throughout the Yi Dynasty, long after more accurate maps of the world, the Far East and Korea, were available. In some of the atlases made in the latter half of the period the CIl 'onhado, the world map, has lines purporting to show parallels and meridians superimposed on the map. [15] The famous Korean cartographer, Chong Sang-gi (1678-1752), broke away from the restrictions of the size of the paper sheets and started using scales on his provincial maps, the Tongguk Chido of circa 1730. [16] However, the tradition of the provincial maps of Korea derived from the Tongguk Yoji Sungnam was so strong that the provincial maps continued to be used in the hand atlases even to the time of a well-known atlas, the Tae Chosonguk Chondo, printed from copper plates in 1896. [17]
