Chaoxian Tushuo (朝鮮圖說), compiled by Zheng Ruozeng (鄭若曾, 1503-1570), an intellectual of the late Ming Dynasty, is the oldest standalone work related to the Korean Peninsula that contains a map, not only in China but potentially in the world. Chaoxian Tushuo is a rare geographical text related to the Korean Peninsula, crafted by late Ming Dynasty intellectuals, prompted by their security concerns. This work serves as a significant resource that provides insight into the perceptions of the Korean Peninsula held by Chinese intellectuals of the time. Despite limitations in information gathering, the compilers appear to have systematically selected and recorded information related to the Korean Peninsula, making the best use of the “latest” resources available at that time.
Chaoxian Tushuo is structured like a local chronicle in line with the system of the Dynasty. This structure itself reveals its perception and understanding of the subject matter, underpinned by a fundamentally “Chinese” worldview that posits China above all. In this context, Chaoxian Tushuo reflects a “China-centered” perspective, highlighting Joseon as a model country under the Chinese order. At the same time, it presents an objective descriptive attitude, considering Joseon as an independent foreign country from a relative perspective. Occasionally, it goes further to express a sense of caution towards Joseon, showcasing a dualistic aspect in its viewpoint. From this perspective, Chaoxian Tushuo can be seen as one of the significant resources that help reaffirm how “China” restructured and reproduced itself through its representation of foreign lands. It also reveals how it fostered a “Chinese consciousness” of itself as a singular “nation-state”, particularly in its relationship with the Korean Peninsula.
It is noteworthy that Chaoxian Tushuo features a standalone map of Joseon, provides detailed records of the major post roads and distances across the Korean Peninsula, discusses Dangun in relative detail, and consistently exhibits an awareness of Japan throughout the text when describing the Korean Peninsula. These distinct attributes can be seen as reflections of the temporal context and particularities of the late Ming Dynasty, both directly and indirectly.