Gyeongsang National University Jinjuhak Research Center Holds 4th Colloquium

Professor Emeritus Kwon Haeju Presents 'The Scene of Jinju in the 1910s as Seen by Japanese'

The Jinju Studies Center of the Gyeongnam Culture Research Institute at Gyeongsang National University will hold the 4th colloquium of 2024 on the 18th at 3 p.m. in the Humanities College Academy Hall (Building 101, Room 343) under the theme "The Landscape of Jinju in the 1910s as Seen by Japanese People: Focusing on Isaku Tomohachi's Revised and Expanded Jinju Guide."

Professor Kwon Haeju, who will deliver the keynote presentation, has led the translation of Revised and Expanded Jinju Guide, a historical document covering the Jinju area during the Japanese colonial period, and has continued research systematically organizing the society and culture of Jinju at that time. The presentation will focus on Isaku Tomohachi’s Revised and Expanded Jinju Guide, written in 1914, examining the social, economic, and cultural landscape of Jinju in the 1910s from a Japanese perspective, as well as the changes in the local community during the early colonial period from multiple angles.

Published in 1914, Revised and Expanded Jinju Guide is a book by the Japanese author Isaku Tomohachi that systematically records various aspects of Jinju in the early years of the Japanese colonial period. This book comprehensively covers Jinju’s geography, history, government organization, industries, customs, and scenic spots, and provides detailed descriptions of the population and households, agriculture, and industry from an economic perspective at that time. In particular, it vividly shows how Jinju changed as the provincial capital of Gyeongsangnam-do during the modernization process.

This book does not merely depict the landscape of Jinju but also aims to encourage migration to this region from within Japan, revealing the economic and cultural potential of Jinju as seen from the perspective of the colonial rulers. The records reflecting the Japanese viewpoint contain perceptions and approaches toward other cultures, allowing us to understand how the early changes in the Jinju local community during the Japanese colonial period intertwined with Japanese colonial policies. Additionally, changes in Jinju’s population, industrial development, scenic spots, and real estate prices provide important clues to understanding the transformations that occurred in the local community during this period.

This translation project is significant in that it provides valuable materials for studying Jinju during the Japanese colonial period based on the systematic content of this book. The translation of the original text goes beyond simple textual interpretation and contributes to understanding the Japanese perception of other cultures and their view of Jinju at that time. Furthermore, this translation work is expected to serve as an important starting point for expanding research on Jinju regional studies and to offer new directions for future local history research.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.