Jiguui

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.883

Category

Craft

Era

조선시대

Designated year

1986

Location

동작구, 서울특별시— 서울 동작구 상도로 369, 한국기독교 박물관 (상도동,숭실대학교)

Coordinates

37.507380, 126.952128

This is a bronze terrestrial globe whose diameter is 24cm. The first record about a globe in Korea states that Crown Prince Sohyeon brought a globe from Peking in 1645 (23rd year of King Injo’s reign). This globe, kept at Soongsil University Museum, is presumed to have been manufactured by Choe Han-gi (1803-1879), a silhak (practical learning) scholar of the late Joseon Period. It indicates a longitude and latitude line every 10 degrees, the Tropic of Cancer, the Tropic of Capricorn, and the ecliptic. In particular, on the ecliptic, the 24 divisions of the year such as the winter solstice and the summer solstice are marked. A ring graduated in degrees is set up on the bowl-shaped pedestal made of zelkova. The ring marked with 360 degrees was designed in a size big enough to hold the south and north of the globe horizontally. The production of the globes, which is possible when exact understanding of the latitudes and longitudes is presumed, shows the level of development of map production. Precisely marked, this globe is especially valuable as the only remaining example made with the intention of making a globe itself.

Location