'Daedongyeojido' from Japan Cultural Heritage Administration: "Different from Domestic Copies... First Case"

The newly repatriated 'Daedongyeojido' from Japan was unveiled to the press on the 30th. Created and published in 1861 and reissued in 1864 by Kim Jeong-ho, a Joseon geographer and map publisher, it is a 22-panel folding nationwide atlas. The artifact was brought back to the homeland from Japan through the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation after the owner expressed willingness to sell it.

On the morning of the 30th, the Cultural Heritage Administration revealed the 'Daedongyeojido' at the National Palace Museum, which shows many differences from the existing 'Daedongyeojido'. The geographic information contained is more detailed than previous editions. Originally, the 'Daedongyeojido' was created by referencing the 'Dongyeodo', which included geographic information such as transportation routes and military facilities of the Joseon era, along with about 18,000 place names. Unlike the colored manuscript atlas 'Dongyeodo', the 'Daedongyeojido' was produced using woodblock printing, which led to many place names and the 'jugi' (information on map production and usage) being omitted.

Daedongyeojido [Photo by Cultural Heritage Administration]

However, the repatriated 'Daedongyeojido' contains complete information with the 'Dongyeodo' content added in manuscript form to the existing edition. In fact, the repatriated 'Daedongyeojido' includes manuscript annotations of the 'Baekdusan Jeonggye Bi' (Boundary Monument of Mount Baekdu) and distances between military facilities, which are absent in previous editions. It also contains details such as the departure points of boats heading to the Ulleungdo area.

Daedongyeojido Volume 1 [Photo by Cultural Heritage Administration]

Additionally, there are many differences in the detailed composition compared to the existing 'Daedongyeojido'. Unlike the previous edition, which engraved the 'Jidoyuseol' (map production purpose and importance) on one panel, this version features handwritten notes in the blank spaces of the map. Also, the Gangwon-do Samcheokbu and Ulleungdo areas, which were printed across two panels in previous editions, are reduced and arranged on a single panel. This follows the layout style of the 'Dongyeodo', and the Cultural Heritage Administration explained that this is the first time such a case has been discovered.

Choi Eung-cheon, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, stated, "The repatriated 'Daedongyeojido' is a rare artifact that combines the colored manuscript 'Dongyeodo' and the woodblock printed 'Daedongyeojido' into one map. This is the first case confirmed domestically." He added, "It has different characteristics in terms of artifact composition and layout compared to the existing domestic copies, making its repatriation highly significant. Through this, we will carefully study the map production and usage in Joseon and expand the scope of geographic information research of the Joseon era."

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