Joseon Dynasty’s Recognition and Cartographic Changes of Dokdo between the 17th and 19th Centuries

Abstract

This study aimed to question the disagreement between the entity (Dokseom, Dokdo) and the names (Usan and Seokdo) while the name of Usan disappeared and that of Seokdo appeared and to analyze the images of Dokseom (Dokdo) appearing in the maps and other materials manufactured in the Second Half of the Joseon Dynasty and the names of Usan and Seokdo in the context of awareness and mapping of the entity to answer the questions about the entity of Dokseom and the names of Usan and Seokdo. Around the seventeenth century, the Joseon Dynasty was fully aware of the entity of Dokdo, which was indicated clearly on the maps as people at that time understood it. However, it seems that the long-term repatriation policy had made the geographical information about Dokdo somewhat uncertain for a hundred years or so. These problems were still found in 「Cheonggudo」 and the initial version of 「Daedongyeojido」 ; then, these repetitive errors were corrected by Kim Jeong-ho’s careful investigation around 1861. In summary, 「Dongyeodo」 and 「Daedongyeojido」, both of which are nationwide maps manufactured by Kim Jeong-ho in the Second Half of the Joseon Dynasty, have a clear indication of Dokdo.