Daehanjiji
Daehanjiji (; Hanja: 大韓地誌) is an elementary school geography text about the Korean Empire by Hyeun Chae (; Hanja: 玄采). Hyeun Chae wrote the book in 1899, translating and compiling Japanese and Korean sources. It was published by Gwangmun-sa (; Hanja: 廣文社), Seoul. Daehanjiji was first published in 1899 and reprinted in 1901. It gave a summary description of late 19th century Korean geography with greater emphasis on physical geography. The written language conformed to the then innovative Gukhanmun Honyongche, one combining han'geul and hanja, and was popular for the relative ease of deciphering. The titles, authors, and chronologies of source  material for the compilation are not always stated, yet Gomatsu Susumu(小松運)'s Chōsenhachidō-shi(朝鮮八道誌; Joseon Paldo-ji, 1887) and Matsumoto Nikichi(Kendo)(松本仁吉; a.k.a. 謙堂)'s Chōsenchishi Yoryaku (朝鮮地誌要略; Joseon Jiji Yoryak, 1894) and their styles are suspected as primary sources and models of emulation. The author states in the postface that he employed several Japanese geographies on Korea, and that he supplemented these with the historical sections from Shinjeung Dongguk Yeojiseungram. As the first Western-style geography textbook published in late Joseon dynasty, it contributed to the Gaehwa movement, the opening up to enlightenment for the Korean masses and raising awareness  and unity as a nation by inviting commoners to learn everything they could about the Korean Empire and its landscape, namely the Korean Peninsula at late 19th century. It was foreworded by Lee Gyu-hwan (; Hanja: 李圭桓), Director of Editorial Office, Ministry of Education. Daehanjiji was employed in the school system, but was banned, confiscated, and burned by Protectorate General by Notice No. 72 of Nov. 19, 1910. Related works. Daehanjiji was the last of the three geographical works of the late 1900s. The provincial gazetteers that were written from 1871 onward, Joseon Jiji (朝鮮地誌; 1895, 1 vol.), and Dahanjiji  itself. Its reprinting in 1901 was followed by other geographical works by authors who were inspired by its novelty, yet who were disappointed for its brevity and obvious omissions. Thus were published Daehan Shinjiji (大韓新地志, Jang Jiyeon, 1907), Chodeung Dahanjiji (初等大韓地誌, An Jonghwa, 1907), and again Chodeung Dahanjiji (初等大韓地誌 An Jonghwa, Ryun Yeon, 1908), which described Usan Island as lying to the Southeast of Ulleung Island. As for institutional innovations in the local administrations since the Seven Year War of 1593 down to 1904, the 1908 Jeungbo Munheon Bigo, The Expanded Encyclopedia of the Eastern Nation, succinctly noted the redevelopment  of Ulleung Island of 1883, its promotion to Uldo County of 1900, and the incorporation of Usan Island under Uldo County jurisdiction. Geographical claims. Daehanjiji describes the domain of the Great Korean Empire as stretching from 33°15′N to 42°25′N and from 124°30′E to 130°35′E, which would exclude the Liancourt Rocks (located at 37°14′30″N 131°52′0″E), ownership of which is claimed by both Korea and Japan. Although Daehanjiji garnered praise as a pioneering Western-style textbook in late Joseon dynasty, it was criticized for its overt dependence on Japanese geographies . It had borrowed heavily from the Japanese sources in its overview, format, and content material, and its longitude-latitude co-ordinates were literally translated from the Japanese books rather than taking Korean measurements conducted by the Korean government. The so-called four limits of the Korean peninsula, including the eastern limit ~~ that has drawn heavy criticism, have been identified in such prior Japanese geographies as follows.