Here is a map in regards to the East Sea/Sea of Japan dispute that is actually interesting:
South Korea has found a 17th century nautical chart made by a British explorer marking the expanse of water between Korea and Japan as the Sea of Korea.
The chart drawn by Sir Robert Dudley in 1646 was revealed just a week ahead of a general assembly meeting of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) scheduled for April 23 through 27 in Monaco, which may possibly change the name of the waters currently named as the Sea of Japan.
South Korea wants the IHO to concurrently call the waters the East Sea, as it is known to Koreans, and the Sea of Japan, saying the original Sea of Korea name was changed after Japan colonized Korea in the early 19th century. Korea was a Japanese colony from 1910 to 1945.
Japan registered the name Sea of Japan with the IHO in the early 1920s.
It is the first time a 17th century map has shown the waters separating the countries as the Sea of Korea, although similar maps from later periods exist.
“It is the first kind of map made in the 17th century, although we have several maps made in the 18th and 19th centuries,” said emeritus professor Kim Mun-gil of the Busan University of Foreign Studies. “The Japanese in charge of the chart at the cultural center have acknowledged that Japan began using the name, Sea of Japan, only in the 19th century.” [Yonhap]
Does anyone know how commonly the name Sea of Korea was used before the 19th century?
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3:17 pm on April 18th, 2012 1
Interesting.
I heard Korea used to be Corea, but Japan changed it to Korea after annexing Korea, because they didn’t like that Corea was before Japan, when sorted alphabetically.
It’ ridiculous if true, and still ridiculous if untrue…
4:09 pm on April 18th, 2012 2
I hear the citizens of Rome want Great Britain’s name changed back to Albion.
5:13 pm on April 18th, 2012 3
Not sure how the Sea of Korea helps Korea’s claim to call it the East Sea. Talk about silly and stupid disputes expressing nationalism. How is that the USA can live with the Gulf of Mexico but Korea can not live with the Sea of Japan. Since we are being silly, is the yellow sea a racist term? Its between China and Korea. If its racist, then what about the Red Sea? or the Black Sea? And if its not racist, why can we call seas by their color but not people. Yellow people is racist, but Black and White is not. Interesting world we live in.
1. Whether true or not, how long has it been since the USA gave up military rule and allowed the ROK to establish its own government, 64 years. How long did the Japanese control Korea? 40 years? In the 64 years of ROK independence, if the ROK wanted to be the ROC they could have done so.
5:19 pm on April 18th, 2012 4
Well, Sea of Korea and East Sea are two different names, aren’t they? The suggestion that the map strengthens the argument that the body of water should be renamed the latter seems preposterous to me. How about presenting old Korean-drawn maps as evidence, instead? What was the sea named on those?
And just out of curiosity, what did the Japanese call the sea previously to 1920?
5:25 pm on April 18th, 2012 5
…Besides, how was the map created? Did the map maker consult the local cartographers? I can draw a map of Alaska and name it West Yukon, it still doesn’t make it so.
I guess the point I’m making is that using a map created for the purpose of promoting European imperial expansionism as a means to attack Japanese imperialism (for whatever reason) is a bit rich.
5:27 pm on April 18th, 2012 6
I have located an ancient map which proves Korea and Japan did not even exist.
http://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/OrbisTerrarum-jansson-1650
Therefore, the dispute is null and void.
7:28 pm on April 18th, 2012 7
Ya know, when I drive to USAG Humphreys every morning from songtan, I take the back road that butts up against the river – I call it “The river road” – but that don’t mean it’s actual name is “The river road”.
The whole East/West/Korea/Japan Sea “fight” is ridiculous.
Is the USA up in arms cause of the naming of the “Gulf of Mexico”? No.
7:42 pm on April 18th, 2012 8
I would not put it past the koreans to falsify data, including maps. Korean academics have a problem with copying others work and have been caught lying about data.
9:53 pm on April 18th, 2012 9
I looked at an old map once, and it had a Lake Illinois. A more recent map called it Lake Illinois or Lake Michigan. After that, the maps all called it Lake Michigan. If the red states ever secede, maybe they’ll call it Lake Indiana.
10:17 pm on April 18th, 2012 10
9. That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Other names for Lake Michigan:
Lake of the Stinking Water
Lake of the Puants
Lac St. Joseph
Lac Dauphin
Michi gami
I think there may be a point to this post.
11:27 pm on April 18th, 2012 11
You are all wrong.
In 1707, Oceanus Chinensis.
But Guillaume Adams also drew Corai as an island, so it might not be worth much.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Adams_1707_map_of_Japan.jpg
Look at some historical maps here from the 1800s to understand what it was called.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Old_maps_of_Japan
12:04 am on April 19th, 2012 12
11. Good day, sir. I said GOOD DAY!
12:46 am on April 19th, 2012 13
Korea is almost an island. Its only land connection to the mainland of Asia is Baekdu Mountain. The rest of the border is two rivers, the Tumen and the Yalu.
10:17 am on April 19th, 2012 14
South Korea is like a fat girl at the school dance. She is stuck in the corner, sying to anyone who will listen: I’m cut, right? People think I’m cute, right? I have the best dress at the party, right? Everyone know MY dress is the best, right? My shoes are better than anyone else’s shoes? You can’t convince me otherwise, and if you disagree with me, there will be drama.
10:42 am on April 20th, 2012 15
14 korea wants everyone to love and respect them, while at the same time, they hate everyone else. They are so proud their music gains some popularity in se asia yet despise se asians at the same time.
2:16 am on April 21st, 2012 16
#14,15,
It’s a Yonhap story. Need I say more?
3:42 pm on April 21st, 2012 17
13. Wouldn’t that line of reasoning qualify the entire eastern half of the US as an island?
4:55 pm on April 21st, 2012 18
Leon 17, I’m only saying the old map wasn’t completely crazy. But you’ve raised a good point. The southwestern US could be considered a separate landmass from the east, which is connected to Canada, west of the Great Lakes. Now see if you can find any old maps showing it like that.
5:40 am on April 28th, 2012 19
Maybe we could have it renamed The Sea of Bitch and Moan.
11:12 am on April 28th, 2012 20
Jake-413451 (#19), that is in fact the original meaning of the Chinese characters in the name Koryŏhae (Corea Sea, 高麗).
11:18 am on April 28th, 2012 21
It has nowhere near the support of the “East Sea” crowd, but there are some who would like to see it called Gulf of America.
In fact, since “America” in the USA comes from being in the Americas, Gulf of America is a much more logical name for that body of water, which is part of three countries (not just Mexico) and is at the heart of the Americas.
12:36 pm on April 28th, 2012 22
Oh for crying out load, can we pull out of this retared little back water country yet? Talk about meaningless little jibber-jabber. Perhaps China could figure it out for them. Wothless little Half-country.