Joseon paldo gogeum chongnamdo (Comprehensive Map of the Eight Provinces of Korea of Past and Present)

This is a xylograph (woodblock-printed) complete map of Joseon, produced in the late Joseon period. It brings together historical records for each region of the country as it then was, allowing past and present (go-geum) to be viewed side by side. The map's maker, Kim Su-hong (金壽弘, 1602–1681), was a grandson of Kim Sang-yong, who died a martyr's death at Ganghwa Fortress during the Manchu invasion of 1636 (Byeongja Horan), and himself served as Vice Minister of the Board of Taxation (hojo champan); in 1666, the seventh year of King Hyeonjong, he had already published in woodblock print the Cheonha gogeum daechong pyeollamdo, a comprehensive survey of past and present under Heaven. A colophon written on the left side of this map ends with the note "gyechuk maengha" (early summer of the gyechuk year), showing that it was made in 1673, the fourteenth year of King Hyeonjong. The depiction of Korea follows the typical layout of early Joseon maps: the Amnokgang (Yalu) River and the Dumangang (Tumen) River are shown lying on the same straight line, and Pyeongan-do and Hamgyeong-do provinces are severely compressed from north to south. The walled city of Seoul is drawn disproportionately large regardless of scale, Gyeongbokgung Palace is marked, and Uijeongbu (the State Council) and the Yukjo (Six Ministries) are shown in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. Nambyeolgung, which once stood on the site of today's Joseon Hotel, is also recorded. This map was produced as a printed edition by adding historical records onto a complete map of Joseon. It is rare among old maps in having both a precisely known production date and a named maker, giving it great academic and historical value.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물