A number of books were issued in many fields as a part of maintenance of new ruling system in the early Chosun Dynasty. A good number of books which were written by many officials who were also scholars were published about history and geography. Book...
A number of books were issued in many fields as a part of maintenance of new ruling system in the early Chosun Dynasty. A good number of books which were written by many officials who were also scholars were published about history and geography. Books which were published by individuals were supported by the government.
Most of history books and geography books which were issued at those times reflected real contents needed in setting up a new dynasty. Those books were made use of as ways to gather revenue needed in governing the dynasty. Those books reflected efforts used to expand confucian culture which was prevailing governing ideology at that time.
At that atmosphere a book named'DongKukYeoJiSeungRam' - generally perceived as a geography book- considerably reflected history perception and territory perception which is based on the former history perception. In the Korean ancient history the Chosun Dynasty raised its pride as a civilized ration by promoting understanding the level about GiJa Chosun and DanKun Chosun. The Chosun Dynasty had a characteristic viewpoint thinking Goguryeo followed Mahan in terms of the proceeding Dynastys' orthodoxy.
In its territory perception superficially it declared its territory at north River Duman and River Amnok at south JeJu Island and Mara Island and at east Ulleung Island and Dokdo Island. Actually taking into consideration diplomatic conflict on Yodong region with Myeong Dynasty in the early Chosun Dynasty Chosun had not revealed its doubting about the region between Yodong and Soonchunryeong(Gonghumjin) and had missed the regions thinking that the regions had been its own territory including Daemado Island.
Therefore a book named'Dongkukyeojiseungram' reflected the history and geography perception of the early Chosun Dynasty. The book showed its value as the most important basic reference which gave birth to history-geography in the late Chosun.