Map of the Gwanbuk province

The map of the Gwanbuk province (present-day Hamgyeong-do Province) is thought to have been made sometime between 1738 and 1753, judging by the way the geographical locations are marked. Notably, it marks the villages and strategic locations in Gwanbuk during the Joseon period. The map marks each myeon (local administrative unit) in detail, and the margin of each page is filled and includes a wealth of information such as how far this region is from the capital, the number of households, the number of troops, dwellings, and so on.

How the Map of the Gwanbuk province to designate a treasure by the Cultulral Heritage Administration of Korea
First, the most noticeable feature of the atlas is the use of a line to mark the range of communication between beacon mounds, which is not marked on any other maps of the province or those of other provinces. It also marks the distance between each beacon mound for users’ convenience. Second, the map features some clues to the date of production. The atlas also contains various clues as to when it was made, such as the results of a census taken in 1678, the location of Musanjin, a defensive position controlled by a local military commander, which was upgraded to ‘Dohobu’ in 1684, and the locations of border stone monuments erected in 1712. Third, the painting techniques, including the use of gorgeous colors and a three-dimensional effect to depict mountains and rivers, are so good that it would not be an exaggeration to say that it compares favorably with maps made by the Dohwaseo (Royal Bureau of Painting).

The map of the Gwanbuk province is judged to be one of the best-preserved and most complete of all the local maps showing the defensive positions of the country’s northern provinces. In addition, it distinguishes Gwanbuk from the areas controlled by outsiders, and marks the distance between the beacon mounds, and the method of sending signals via beacon fire in detail. As such, it can be said to be a groundbreaking document in the history of cartography in Korea.