Iiktae Jiyeongrok

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2002

Category

Books & Records

Designated year

2018

Location

제주시, 제주특별자치도— 제주특별자치도 제주시 일주동로 17 (건입동)

Coordinates

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Understanding Yeongju by Yi Ik-tae (Jiyeongnok) is a book by Yi Ik-tae (1633-1704) about the history of the province of Yeongju (present-day Jeju) and Yi’s administrative work during his term as the Governor of Jeju-mok from the seventh month of 1694 to the ninth month of 1696. The contents of the book include his journey from the capital of Joseon to the island of Jeju, his administrative services on behalf of the islanders during his term of office as the Governor of Jeju-mok, daily records of events, literary writings, and records of Korean and Japanese castaways who came ashore at Jeju. Of the records about the castaways, one subtitled Diary of the Castaway Kim Dae-hwang is particularly significant as it contains Jeju islander Kim’s observations of Vietnam after he left the port of Jeju in the eighth month of 1687 only to be cast adrift at sea and wash up on the coast of Vietnam. Yi Ik-tae’s book contains valuable information about the culture and customs of Jeju’s inhabitants during the Joseon period, place names on the island, and the Joseon government’s policy on the treatment of foreign castaways who were stranded on Jeju. Published eight years earlier than Encyclopedia by an Official in the South (Namhwan Bangmulji, 1704), authored by Yi Hyeong-sang (1653-1733), of which the original edition has been designated as Treasure No. 652, Understanding Yeongju is now generally regarded as the oldest extant book about anthropogeography in Jeju-do.