Koreans have had much interest in and knowledge of astronomy and geography from earliest times. Detailed as well as abbreviated maps were produced during the Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910). Maps most frequently produced in this dynasty were maps of Korea ...
Koreans have had much interest in and knowledge of astronomy and geography from earliest times. Detailed as well as abbreviated maps were produced during the Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910). Maps most frequently produced in this dynasty were maps of Korea where only distances between towns were recorded along with the names of mountains, rivers, and post-horse roads. Also produced in the dynasty were special maps, such as maps of mountains and rivers; maps of particular mountain areas, maps of mountain range; maps for military use, maps of army jurisdictions etc. Coloured were used for convenience; notes were provided as if the map had been an appendix to a geographic writing.. From the seventeenth century, world maps of Western origin were introduced in Korea through missionaries. These maps brought new perspectives and technologies to Korean Geography, which the production of maps even more. The map made in the traditional era of Korea was among the last. Its author was Kim, Chong-Ho. Called DaedongYeojido, the map was completed in 1861. The scale is 1 to 160,000. Folding and unfolding like an accordion, it consists of 22 pages.
This study is the examine the usefulness of old maps as the materials of the historical geography of Pusan. About 78 Chosun dynasty maps covering Pusan was collected from the antiques maps books and related literature. The earliest and detailed map covering map is Pusanpo-Jido produced in 1474 which is in the travel description written by Shin, Sook-Joo. The most detailed maps is Haedong-Jido. Those maps can be classified by the area described in the map as follows
1) Dongrae-Pu where is area of Pusan Metropolitan Area
2) Kijang-hyun where was the independent county in that period, but nowadays is the regional subcenter in Pusan.
3) Keumjeong Mountain Castle which was built for the military defense in the wartime.
4) Dongrae Castle which was the regional center in Chosun-dynasty but nowadays is the regional center in Pusan.
5) Pusan-Po where was subcenter in the Chosun Dynasty but nowadays harbour facilities is built.
6) Oe-Kwan which was the military service area of Japanese, but became the CBD from the Japanese Imperialism (1910-) main center.
7) Soo-Young Castle which was marine military center in Chosun Dynasty but regional center nowadays.
8) Transport route along the coast in Chosun Dynasty.
Types of those maps were very diverse. Some maps was described with the regional geography with statistics. The others were described like pictures. And another maps were produced by the survey. But all of those maps could be useful for historical geography, such as the study of reconstruction of the past geography and changes through the times.