During my recent stay at the University of Oxford as a visiting scholar, I had the opportunity to explore Japanese collections in the UK. My research led me to two fascinating maps of Tsushima, an island strategically located between Japan and Korea. These maps both now digitized and accessible online, form part of larger Japanese map collections preserved in the British Library and the John Rylands Research Institute and Library at the University of Manchester. The digitization of these valuable historical resources has opened up new avenues for scholars worldwide, significantly enhancing research possibilities in fields ranging from cartography to geopolitical history.

The first map, titled “Iki no kuni Tsushima no kuni” (The Province of Iki, The Province of Tsushima, https://mapwarper.h-gis.jp/maps/4086, shelfmark: Maps 149.e.225) , is preserved in the British Library. Notably, the British Library employs separate curators for Japanese collections and Map collections, underscoring the intricate nature of these archives. Originally part of Philipp Franz von Siebold’s collection—a pioneer in international Japanology—the map was acquired by the British museum on July 22, 1868, as evidenced by a small stamp. This comprehensive map depicts both Tsushima and Iki islands, providing rich details such as rice production estimates and the islands’ dimensions. Importantly, it designates Tsushima as “foreign borders” (Ikoku kinkyō), highlighting the island’s unique geopolitical status. The map also indicates the distance from Sasuna Ura to the Japan House in Busan (J: Wakan, K: Waegwan), emphasizing Tsushima’s role in Japan-Korea relations.

The second map, despite being catalogued “Nagasaki ezu” (Pictorial map of Nagasaki, https://mapwarper.h-gis.jp/maps/4023, shelfmark: Maps *63405.6) actually presents a view of Izuhara Port in Tsushima. A similar copy of this map, named “Tsushima zu” (Map of Tsushima, https://www.digitalcollections.manchester.ac.uk/view/PR-JAPANESE-00117/1, Classmark: Japanese 117), is preserved at The John Rylands Research Institute and Library at the University of Manchester. This map features several intriguing annotations, including “English and Russian vessel anchorage points” (“Igirisu rosen tsunagiba”), complete with a small black ship illustration. This annotation likely reference specific historical events: the anchoring of the British warship HMS Actaeon at Ozakiura in Asou Bay in April 1859 and the arrival of the Russian corvette Posadnik at Imosaki in February 1861 during the Tsushima Incident. The map also notes the location of a residence for Korean castaways (“Hyōryū chōsenjin kyokan”), providing insight into Tsushima’s role in repatriating Korean castaways and managing relations with Chosŏn Korea. Additionally, it enriches our understanding of local maritime knowledge by marking distances between key landmarks in Izuhara Port, offering a glimpse into the practical navigation concerns of the time.

While the first map highlights Tsushima’s pivotal role in Japan-Korea relations, the second expands this narrative by incorporating elements of western influence during the Bakumatsu period, offering a more comprehensive view of the island’s geopolitical significance.The prominence of foreign ships in these maps reflects Tsushima’s crucial role during the Bakumatsu period, a time of increasing international pressure on Japan. This emphasis on western presence extends beyond these maps, appearing in other artistic representations of Tsushima from the period. A notable example is Utagawa Hiroshige Ⅱ’s renowned series “Sixty-eight Views of the Various Provinces” (“Shokoku rokujūhakkei”). The Tsushima piece in this series, which is also the final woodblock print in the collection, prominently features a large western warship. Printed in 1862, shortly after the Tsushima Incident, this Ukiyo-e not only echoes the cartographic representations we’ve examined but also demonstrates how deeply the issue of western influence had penetrated Japanese consciousness across various media.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tsushima Coast (Tsushima kaigan, , University of Oxford, Photographed by Yongchao Cheng)

These two Tsushima maps offer a unique glimpse into the island’s past, highlighting its strategic role in Japan’s international relations during a critical historical period. They provide detailed geographical insights and reflect the political and cultural landscape of the time. As digitized resources, they underscore the lasting value of historical cartography in understanding past societies.

(Yongchao Cheng, Associate Professor, Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University)