조선 지리의 내용분석 - 자연지리를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This article focuses on the contents of physical geography described in Choseon Jiri (조선지리), a geopgraphy textbook in the Japanese colonial period. In terms of contents, a wide range of facts and knowledge was covered, with mechanical imitation of statement style of regional and systematic approach. The results are as follows. First, this textbook described the characteristics of mountains and climate in three regions divided: northern, central, and southern, respectively. Second, people could easily understand geomorphological terms from this textbook; watershed, plains, beach, etc. Particularly, this textbook suggested the concept of mountain range orientations. Third, climate features were described using observational data, such as temperature, precipitation, wind, and fog. It is possible to conclude that this book consisted of physical geography aimed at rational and objective perception of nature.