Maps of Korea and the world

細節

Anonymous (19th century)
Maps of Korea and the world
Block-printed in black ink, mounted as an album, 7 leaves, 13 maps, labelled with line borders, with brown waxed-paper covers, sewn; finger soil, stains and wear, later inscriptions in ink, covers worn; in yellow cloth box case with leather label with gilt title "Corean Atlas"
12¼ x 14 7/8in. (31.5 x 37.9cm.)

拍品專文

The first map of this album is titled "Map of all under heaven" (in Korean, ch'onhado), a traditional representation of the world. In the center is China surrounded by Korea, Japan and the Western Regions. The Land of Winged People, the Land of the Amazons and the Land of Immortals, among others, also appear, taken from the Chinese Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhai jing), a geography and mythography written between 475 and 221 B.C. The second map of the atlas shows the Great Wall, Ming-dynasty provinces and mountains of China. The third and fourth maps depict Japan and the Ryukyu Islands between Japan and Taiwan. The maps following show the various provinces of Korea: Kyonggi, Ch'ungch'ong, Cholla, Kyongsang, Hwanghae, Pyongan, Kangwon and Hangyong. The final map shows Korea's historical kingdoms and capitals.