Korea
A Cartographic History
The first general history of Korea as seen through maps, "Korea: A Cartographic History" provides a beautifully illustrated introduction to how Korea was and is represented cartographically. John Rennie Short, one of today's most prolific and well-respected geographers, encapsulates six hundred years of maps made by Koreans and non-Koreans alike.
Largely chronological in its organization, Korea begins by examining the differing cartographic traditions prevalent in the early Joseon period in Korea – roughly 1400 to 1600 – and its temporal equivalent in early modern Europe. As one of the longest continuous dynasties, Joseon rule encompassed an enormous range and depth of cartographic production. Short then surveys the cartographic encounters from 1600 to 1900, distinguishing between the early and late Joseon periods and highlighting the influences of China, Japan, and the rest of the world on Korean cartography. In his final section, Short covers the period from Japanese colonial control of Korea to the present day and demonstrates how some of the tumultuous events of the past hundred years are recorded and contested in maps. He also explores recent cartographic controversies, including the naming of the East Sea/Sea of Japan and claims of ownership of the island of Dokdo.
A common theme running throughout Short's study is how the global flow of knowledge and ideas affects mapmaking, and Short reveals how Korean mapmakers throughout history have embodied, reflected, and even contested these foreign depictions of their homeland.
Reviews
"Both a history of cartography and a cartographic history, John Rennie Short's highly readable and beautifully illustrated book recounts the absorbing story of Korea's integration into global space with accuracy and aplomb" – Laura Hostetler, University of Illinois at Chicago
"There are more than a few Korean books of the country's cartographic history, but 'Korea: A Cartographic History' separates itself from others in that it reviews how Korea was incorporated in Western maps, as well as how Korea, East Asia, and the West were represented in and through Korean maps. John Rennie Short, a prolific writer in the areas of geography and urban studies, has also published several books on the history of cartography, the politics of mapmaking, and European maps. He is one of the very few who are qualified to compare European maps to Korean ones in terms of their worldview, geographic knowledge of other territories as well as their own, and uses and purposes of mapmaking. Undoubtedly, this book fills the gap in the current literature on the development of the history of cartography. It also makes a significant contribution to the historical studies of Joseon and colonial Korea, as Korean cartographic representations of and encounters with outside influences would add a new dimension to the existing understanding of the Korean people's relations with others" – Yeong-Hyun Kim, Ohio University
"John Rennie Short has written a superb review of the cartographic history of Korea. The text is clear and the illustrations fascinating. The story of the interweaving of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and European science is engaging and opens to the nonspecialist a vista of the fascinating interplay of politics, trade, science, and landscape. The masterful overview is punctuated by very detailed analysis of several key maps. The concluding chapter on cartographic controversies brings the story into the postmodernist debates on place making and critical geopolitics. The book is a must-have for all lovers of maps and students of China, Korea, and Japan" – David A. Lanegran, Macalester College
