Dokdo has had several different
names depending on who was referring to them and at what time in history.Dokdo
became the territory of Korea about 1,500 years ago when King Jijeung of Silla
ordered Isabu to incorporate Usanguk into Silla in the 13th year of King Jijeung
(512). It is recorded in Samguksagi as follows: "In June of the 13th year
of King Jijeung, Usanguk submitted to Silla and decided to offer local products
every year. Usanguk is an island due east of Myeongju , and also called
Ulleungdo." It is also recorded in Goryeosajiriji that: "Usando and
Mureungdo are two islands which are not far away from each other, so they can be
seen when the weather is clear and no wind blows." Sejong-sillokjiriji includes
an entry: "The two islands, Usan and Mureung, are in the sea due east of the
prefecture. They are not far away from each other so they are visible in clear
weather. They were known as Usanguk in Silla." It is clearly recorded in the
above-mentioned three historical references that Dokdo was incorporated into
Korea during the reign of King Jijeung of Silla and that Usanguk encompassed
Ulleungdo and Usando .
The Japanese document in which Dokdo was mentioned for the first time is Onshu
shicho goki , published in 1667. This was a report prepared by Saito, an
official of Izumo (former name of Shimane Prefecture) who made an inspection
trip to Oki Island in 1667 at the behest of his feudal lord. In the report,
Dokdo was mentioned for the first time as Matsushima, and Ulleungdo as Takeshima.
The report noted: "Onshu (Oki Province) is located in the middle of the northern
sea. So, it is called Oki Island. When one goes northwest for two days and a
night from the island, there is Matsushima. There is Takeshima at a distance of
a one-day trip from there. It is also called Isotakeshima and there are many
bamboo trees and sea lions. The two islands (Matsushima and Takeshima) are
uninhabited, and the viewing of Goryeo can be compared to that of Oki (Oki
Island) from Unshu. Therefore, as for Japan's northwestern region, this province
(Onshu: Oki Island) is considered to be the limit." This report is the first
written record of Japan in which Dokdo was mentioned, and it recognized both
Dokdo and Ulleungdo as being the territory of Joseon.
In the past, Koreans have variously used Usando, Sambongdo, Seokdo and
Gajido ("-do" means "island"). The reason there was no continuity in these
names was because, until this century, there was no residents on the Island. The
first mention in official texts was as Usando in 512 in connection with a
state known as Usanguk, which was incorporated into Korea's Shilla
Dynasty (57 BC to 935 AD).Some historical texts describe Dokdo as having
three peaks when viewed from a certain angle - hence the name Sambongdo,
which means "island of three peaks" (even though now it's most known for two
main craggy peaks). The "gaji" in Gajido comes from the old Korean
word for seal. Seokdo and Dokdo is two different Chinese translations of
the same Korean word - Dokseom - which means "rocky island" in the
dialect used by the people of the nearest inhabited island, Ulleungdo.When
translated from Chinese characters on the basis of pronunciation, Dokseom
became Dokdo, and this name became commonly used around 1882.
European Since 1849, a French whale hunter later christened the grouping as
the "Liancourt Rocks." This name continues to be used in some Western books and
maps. In 1855, a British expedition named Dokdo the "Hornet Rocks" after
the expedition's ship, the Hornet.
JapaneseSince at least 1905, the Japanese have referred to the Island as "Takeshima,"
but previous names included "Yanggo" and the "Liancourt" island.
Dokdo, the easternmost island
group of Korean territory
Dokdo , a small islands
group called Takeshima in Japan, marks the easternmost point of Korean
territory. It is first mentioned in Korean history in AD 512.
The Territorial Dispute
Over Dokdo
The government of the
Republic of Korea (South Korea) designated Dokdo 'Natural Monument ... Both
Japan and Korea lay claim to Dokdo, and both claim a long ...
Germany
United States
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Japan
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Korean Territory, Dokdo (korean)
Korean Territory, Dokdo (English)