Essay: Analyzing Psychological Elements in Old Korean Historical Maps

This essay delves into the psychogeographic elements present in old Korean historical maps, providing insights into Korean culture, history, and the psychological perspectives of the people during different periods. The essay examines several significant maps, including the Kangnido map, the Cheonhado map, and the Daedong Yeojido print map, analyzing their unique features, symbolism, and the worldviews they represent. It explores how these maps reflect the influence of external factors, such as Chinese knowledge and Western scientific advancements, on Korean cartography and intellectual thought. The study also discusses the concept of "derive" and its application in understanding the experiences of people in the city, as well as the significance of cultural heritage sites like the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and the Joseon Royal Tombs in revealing the psychological development of the Korean people. Furthermore, the essay highlights the importance of these maps in tracing Korean history and understanding the evolution of their beliefs, infrastructure, and cultural values, ultimately demonstrating how Korean historical maps serve as a window into the psychological landscape of the past.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
Maps are essential for all countries and states. It helps one to visualise the spatial
distributions and its relationships which makes it possible for and individual to perceive a set
of pattern that may be difficult to express verbally. It is also a means of communication by
which people of different languages can interact with each other. Maps also tell a lot about
the history and culture of the place (Monmonier 2018). Situationism is a theory according to
which human behaviour changes due to the situation and not because of personal traits.
External factors, rather than internal attributes influence behaviour. Situation decides how a
person will behave at that particular moment (Bunyard 2017). This is where the derive
strategy propounded by Guy Debord, a member of the Letterist International movement
comes in. It was considered as a critical tool to understand and develop the concept of
psychogeography. The latter is where psychology and geography intersect. It also defines the
effects of external geographical environment on the emotions as well as the behaviour of an
individual as well as the subjective experience of people in the city which brings to mind the
forgotten aspects of the urban environment (Bridger 2016). The essay aims at revealing and
analysing the psychogeographic elements in the old historical Korean maps.
Korea is one of the homogeneous countries in the entire world with its own specific
culture and language that makes it different from the rest of the Asian countries. Citizens take
pride in their Korean culture and tradition. There are no religious preferences though
Christianity and Buddhism are widely practised in the country. Psychogeographers have
traced Korean history with the help of ancient maps. To draw information about the place
they believe in becoming lost in the city. They can achieve this with the derive strategy.
According to some theorists derives are essential as a result of the monotony of day-to-day
life with the advancement of capitalism. Derive is when a group of people take respite from
their daily work for some movement and are carried over by the attractions and encounters
that come their way. Derive becomes more meaningful when two or more groups can reach

2PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
the same awareness (Jappe 2017). Korean maps say a lot about the history and experiences of
the people of a particular period. Kangnido also referred to as “Map of Integrated Lands and
Regions” is one of the oldest maps that have survived in East Asia. It was designed in 1402
by Yi Hoe and Kwon Kun. The map reflects the geographic knowledge of Korea and China
at the time of the Mongol Empire. It has a detailed description of rivers and islands that
existed in the country. The map is an example of psychogeography where Islamic science and
Chinese knowledge have been integrated (Park 2018). The psychogeographers have very well
demonstrated the stagnation after the post-Mongal empire. The Korean people were
prodigious cartographers and the Kangnido map very well represented this tradition. The map
shows Africa with a huge chasm in the middle which looked like a lake. The psychographers
thought this lake to be the Sahara lake which must have dried five thousand years ago, before
the creation of the Kangnido. Another example of a psychogeographic map of Korea is the
Cheonhado map. The shape of the map is circular that was circulated in the Joseon Dynasty.
It shows historical places that were previously dominated by China. The shape and content of
the map are unique that has attracted the attention of a lot of people. It reflects the world
views of the Koreans as it is found only in the Joseon Dynasty particularly amongst the
countries of East Asia. It was distributed among the public of the late Joseon Dynasty in
various ways. Till today ten printed copies of the map still exist along with various types of
the colourful manuscript. It was only after the 17th century that the existing Cheonhado map
began to be manufactured. This was the period when missionaries of the west introduced
scientific knowledge of the west through China. As Cheonhado was the world map made in a
circular shape that was similar to the theory of earth it was enough to arouse the curiosity of
many Korean intellectuals. The latter believed the sky to be round and earth to be square in
shape. So the circular map came as a shock for these intellectuals. The intellectuals, however,
did not accept the theory of earth that was drawn on the map, nor were they willing to accept

3PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
the world of unknown. The map went against their age-old Chinese mythology as well as
geography (Lederle and Belle 2016). Thus, the intellectuals in the late Joseon Dynasty
created a new map that favoured their flow of thinking. The map has many imaginary
countries and island along with real countries such as China and India. There are also signs of
injuries as well as counterattacks. However, Cheonhado is based on the concept of the sky is
round and not the earth. It still regards China as the centre of the world as the intellectuals
limited their venture to only China and Japan. There is also a cosmic view of the map, where
people are shown to participate with objects of nature. They wanted to depict the relationship
between people, heaven and earth which described the world as a whole and not just the land.
The map also reflects the idea of Taoism, where a man yearned to live a long life without any
disease. The Cheonhado map reflects the ideal world where the geographical world merges
with the sky that is round and an earth which is square and where there is no fear of illness.
The psychogeographic elements are very well depicted in the map. But the map depicts their
ignorance where they failed to capture and recognise the world and its content. A lesson can
be drawn from the structure of the map that one should be aware of the world that has a
variety of meanings as well as values that helps the people and the country to emerge. The
revised Cheonhado maps still maintain the exact structure of the earlier one despite being
exposed to other world maps that have more geographical knowledge. Thus, it was revised to
be at par with the western geographical knowledge but the content comprised of same old
sources of traditional Asia. Therefore, Korea was considered to be an island by many
European mapmakers. The Cheonhado map was popular until the end of the 19th century.
Thus, the map gives a detailed analysis of the psychogeographic theory, where the idea of
derive has been applied brilliantly.
According to the Korean heritage, not only the maps but other factors too depict the
psychology and tradition of the people. Shim Cheong, a Korean vernacular supports the we-

4PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
ness concept. It is a cultural emotion which psychologically connects the individuals and the
most popular tool of communication among them. For the close relationship with others has a
special meaning that is attached to their self (Jee 2016). The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress is a
heritage of Korea that tells a lot about the people and their thoughts. It was built using both
traditional and western techniques. It was constructed to show the political ambition of King
Jeongjo’s who wanted to stop factionalism in the world of politics and create a political
balance. It was made like a pleasant and lively commercial city (Song and Kim 2018). It
represented the new psychological change of people who were accepting the modifications
brought by western countries. The royal tomb of Joseon is another famous Korean heritage
which was recognised by UNESCO. It brilliantly depicts the cultural tradition that might be
either living or dead. It has a friendly funeral culture and reflects Confucian ideas. It is the
best example of the type of building and landscape which is significant in human history
(Choi 2017). The heritage reveals the psychological development of the people with time.
Another example of the old historical map is the Daedong Yeojido print map made in a wood
block that was published by Kim Jeong Ho, in 1861 and is remarkably accurate. The map is
realistic in its description of old Korea and is the most delicate work of art (Joo and Jeong
2017). It is regarded as the fines depiction of some of the features of the traditional city of
Korea. Little is known about Kim Jeong the cartographer, but it is believed that he walked the
entire Korean peninsula to collect information of his maps. The reason of his death remains
uncertain, but it is thought that he died in prison for depicting sensitive political details in his
sketches. He designed another map before Daedong, which had cultural, political as well as
social comments. The map further helped in tracing the psychology of the Korean people and
gave an insight into their perspectives. Suseon Jeondo widely known as the map of Seoul,
was made by Kim Jeongho. The map depicts the roads, villages and facilities along with
other features of the city. The mountains are traditionally shown to be touching the sky. It

5PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
shows the authority of the king extending beyond the lines. It is the most excellent depiction
of the city. Psychologically the mountains touching the sky depicted that the king was the
supreme authority on land and he possessed power beyond his states. It can also be
interpreted as God is the controller of both earth and sky.
To conclude, it can be said that Korean historical maps tell a lot about its people,
history, culture, infrastructure and beliefs. It also has a psychological motive attached to it
which helps the readers to understand the perspectives of the people of that time. The maps
take the people to a psychogeographical journey which helped the cartographers to venture
into a new adventure, see things differently and exploring the city in a new away. It has also
helped in tracing the Korean history which would not have been possible otherwise.

6PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
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7PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN KOREAN MAPS
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