[Map of Korea]

Archetypal map of the Korean peninsula from the 19th century.

This fascinating woodblock map of Korea was originally published, probably in the 1870s or 1880s, as part of a stylized atlas known as yeojido. Popularized in the late Joseon dynasty, these volumes do not typically reflect modern Western notions of ‘accurate’ cartography, instead displaying representative images that highlight Korea’s geographic relationships within its own borders and in the broader international scope.

The map presents the Korean peninsula in a largely ‘simplified’ form, greatly exaggerating physical features like mountains and rivers. The capital, Seoul, is circled and highlighted in red, while other important political centers are surrounded by red boxes and named, along with their respective number of Imperial officials. Blocks of text on either side provide additional geographic and historical information.

Source: Pegg, Richard A. Cartographic Traditions in East Asian Maps. 31 Aug. 2014.