『混一疆理歷代國都之圖』의 제작시기 ―류코쿠본을 중심으로―

Abstract

The Korean map of the Afro-Eurasia world, entitled Honil kangi yoktae kukto chito (Map of Integrated Lands and Regions of Historical Countries and Capitals), was created in 1402. The map is quite significant in that it was made long before the “discovery” of the Cape of Good Hope by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 and it is the oldest extant Afro-Eurasia map showing the furthest southern tip of Africa. But the original map is lost, but four versions of the map can be found in Japan. These versions are not just straightforward copies of the original map but its revised editions reflecting the history of Korea. Its oldest version is now held at Omiya Library, Ryukoku University, Japan. This article proposes a revised dating of the oldest version between early 1481 and early 1486 (late 1485, according to the oriental lunar calender) on the basis of a detailed re-examination of the Korean administrative place-names in the Ryukoku Kangnido. It does not mean that all the place-names in the world as well as in Korea were completely revised according to Korea between 1481 and 1486. Some old anachronistic place-names are seen even in Korea, and some administrative place-names are not written on the map. Despite its imperfection, the Ryukoku Kangnido indicates that the Kangnido was often revised during the fifteenth century after 1402 when the original map was made.