Seobuk pia yanggye malli illam jido (Comprehensive Map for Defense of West and North Border) (2008)

This is a border defence map (gwanbang jido) depicting Joseon's north-western region and the Manchurian area of China, produced in the mid-18th century. It is a military map made for defence against Qing invasion; the title's word "pia" (彼我, "them and us") refers to Qing China and Joseon. The map covers the area from Heungnyonggang River in Manchuria in the east to Sanhaegwan Pass in the west, centred on Baekdusan Mountain and the Amnokgang and Dumangang Rivers. The rivers, mountain ranges and major peaks, counties, road networks and key points of Joseon's northern region are described in detail, and in particular the detailed transport network and military strongpoints of the Amnokgang–Dumangang border area are well represented. The Manchurian region is not shown in as much detail as Joseon's northern region, but part of a wooden palisade wall and the Great Wall of China are marked, and the detailed route from Uiju through Bonghwangseong and Seonggyeong to Sanhaegwan, along with military strongpoints such as passes, postal stations and forts, is recorded in detail. The route from Hoeryeong and Gyeongwon in Korea through Yeonggotap and Gaewon to Seonggyeong is also depicted in relatively fine detail. In the margins of the map are recorded the history of the Manchurian region, the fact that it was once the old territory of the Korean people, and the renaming, under the Qing, of Simyang, Yoyang and Geonju as Seonggyeong, Donggyeong and Heunggyeong respectively. The map's orientation is also not aligned north–south but instead follows "haejwa sahyang" (亥坐巳向, north-north-west to south-south-east), the traditional siting orientation of the land, as its vertical axis. This map is of very high scholarly value from a historical-geographical perspective, and is also regarded as a map of considerable artistic accomplishment in pictorial terms.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물