Daedongyeojido(2002)

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.850-2

Category

Craft

Era

조선 철종 12년(1861)

Designated year

2002

Location

종로구, 서울특별시— 서울 종로구 새문안로 55, 서울역사박물관 (신문로2가,서울역사박물관)

Coordinates

37.570149, 126.970429

Daedong yeojido is the oldest surviving map of Korea, created by Kim Jeong-ho (pen name Gosanja) in the 12th year of King Cheoljong’s reign (1861). The map is drawn on an enormous piece of paper that can be folded into 21 pages. Fully unfolded, it becomes a huge map of the country. Page 1 contains the preface explaining the motives and principles of the map’s production, statistics on Seoul and the eight provinces, the legend, and a separate map of the five districts of Seoul. The map of the whole country occupies pages 2 to 21. The map includes the provinces, counties and villages as well as mountains and rivers. The roads connecting the provinces are marked every 10 li (3.9km) to indicate distances. The map also includes local government offices, county offices, castles, military encampment sites, public warehouses, government horse ranches, beacon fire mounds, royal tombs, village offices, sites of old counties, disused military encampment sites, abandoned fortresses, and a web of roads. There are other versions of the map in the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies, the National Library of Korea, and Sungshin Women’s University Museum. This version, however, is of higher bibliographical value with its additional information on statistics concerning Seoul and the eight provinces. Also, it is in great condition, with skilled coloring and clear printing.

Location