The People of Joseon’s Perception of Baekdusan Viewed through Geographical Materials

Abstract

The perception of Baekdusan as the spiritual mountain of the Korean nation, as the ancestor of all Korean mountains, and as the root of the homeland, has existed since ancient times. However, this perception was further strengthened during the Joseon era. Based on a perusal of the geographical materials produced during the Joseon era, this study analyzes the perceptions of Baekdusan that prevailed at the time. To be more specific, the study analyzes how Baekdusan was described in ancient maps, topographies, and Silhak scholars’ geographical works as part of efforts to identify the nature and level of their objective knowledge and subjective perceptions of Baekdusan. Furthermore, based on a chronological approach to the geographical materials, this study analyzes how the perceptions of Baekdusan changed over time. The study found that a significant change in the prevailing perception of Baekdusan began to emerge during the seventeenth century. This development was in large part the result of the emergence of Baekdusan and the Manchu areas as a mutual zone of interest for both Joseon and Qing following the latter’s conquest of all of mainland China. During the process of discussing a border between the two sides, in the form of the establishment of demarcation stone, the public began to pay added attention to the actual significance of Baekdusan, which in turn led to more interest in Baekdusan in and of itself. This interest at the social level eventually led to actual visits and literary criticism-based studies of Baekdusan. Through such activities, the symbolic meaning of Baekdusan as the root of the homeland was further strengthened.