Yogye gwanbang jido (Borderland Map of Liaodong and Beijing)

This is a late-Joseon border defence map (gwanbang jido) depicting the fortifications, palisades and long walls of the region stretching from Liaodong in China to the Ji area near Beijing. It was produced in 1706 (the 32nd year of King Sukjong) by Yi I-myeong (1658–1722) and presented to the king, and is regarded as the finest of all border defence maps. Having travelled to Qing China as an envoy in 1705, Yi I-myeong made this map with reference to several works: the Juseung pillam, purchased during his journey, by the Ming-dynasty scholar Seon Geuk-geun; the "Ora jibangdo" (Map of the Ora Region) from the Qing-era gazetteer the Seonggyeongji; Joseon's own "Hanghae gongnodo" (Map of Sea Tribute Routes) and "Seobuk ganghae byeongyedo" (Map of the North-western River and Sea Border); and a "Sandong haebang jido" (Map of the Coastal Defence of Sandong), which he had a court painter copy during his mission. Made for the king's own viewing, the map was painted on silk and mounted as a ten-panel folding screen. The meticulous composition spread across its large panels, the firm yet refined brushwork, and the decorative effect of the mountains rendered in the blue-and-green landscape technique all add artistic merit to the map. It is a work of outstanding quality both in the history of cartography and as a painting.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물