Older Books which Contributed to the
Discovery of Korea by Europeans
The following books are quoted or referred to in my pages about European
discoveries of Korea. They are listed in (roughly)
chronological order.
A more comprehensive listing is found in Bibliotheca
Sinica, lists over 3,000 titles with links to online texts
/ facsimiles.
Peregrinaçam
de Fernam Mendez Pinto. : Em que da conta de muytas
e muyto estranhas cousas que vio & ouuio no reyno da China,
no da Tartaria, no do Sornau, que vulgarmente se chama
Sião, no do Calaminhan, no de Pegù, no de
Martauão, & em outros muytos reynos & senhorios
das partes orientais, de que nestas nossas do Occidente ha muyto
pouca ou nenha noticia. ... : E no fim della trata bruemente ...
da morte do santo padre mestre Francisco Xauier ...(
Lisboa. : Por Pedro Crasbeeck. 1614) A modern English translation
of the complete Portuguese text was published by the University of
Chicago Press in 1992: The
Travels of Mendes Pinto, Edited and translated by Rebecca
D. Catz.
Les
voyages adventureux de Fernand Mendez-Pinto fidèlement
traduits de portugais en français par le sieur Bernard
Figuier Gentil-homme Portugais Dediez a Monseigneur le Cardinal de
Richelieu A Paris [chez Mathurin Henault 1628]
[Arnould Cotinet, rue de Carmes proche la Mazure et Jean Roger,
rue des Amandiers devant les Grassins a la vérité
royale 1645] [or
see a clearer 19th century edition]
[A much shortened version, less than half the original] The
voyages and adventures, of Fernand Mendez Pinto,
a Portugal: during his travels for the space of one and
twenty years in the kingdons of Ethiopia, China, Tartaria,
Cauchinchina, Calaminham, Siam, Pegu, Japan and a great part of
the East-Indiaes. With a Relation and Description of
most of the Places thereof; their Religion, Laws, Riches, Customs,
and Government in time of Peace and War. Where he five times
suffered Shipwrack, was sixteen times sold, and thirteen times
made a Slave. Written Originally by himself in the Portugal
Tongue, and Dedicated to the Majesty of Philip King of Spain. Done
into English by H C. [Henry Cogan] Gent. London, Printed by F.
Macock, for Henry Cripps, and Lodowick Lloyd , and are to be sold
at their shop in Popes head Alley neer Lumbar Street. 1653 (Internet
Archive; National Library
of Portugal)
Itinerario:
Voyage ofte schipvaert van Jan Huyghen van Linschoten naar
Oost ofte Portugaels Indien … 1579-1592. (Amsterdam:
Cornelis Claesz. 1596)
Linschoten
Iohn
Huighen Van Linschoten, His Discours of Voyages Into Ye Easte
& West Indies, Deuided Into Foure Bookes [English translation from the Dutch by William
Phillip. Printed at London : By Iohn
Wolfe ..., [1598] (Images of a better quality are available
from the Library of
Congress)
Richard Hakluyt
(In Italian) Copia
di due lettere annue scritte dal Giapone del 1589. & 1590.
L’una dal P. Vice Provinciale al P. Alessandro Valignano, Paltra
dal P. Luigi Frois al P. Generale della Compagnia di Giesu. Et
della Spagnuola nella Italiana lingua tradotte dal P. Gasparo
Spitilli della Compagnia medesima. pp.125.
Rome. 1593
(In French) Lettre du Japon des annees 1591. et 1592. Escrite
au R.P. General de la Compagnie de Iesus. Et tournee d’Espagnol
en Italien par le P. Ubaldino Bartolini de la mesme Compagnie;
et maintenant en nostre langue vulgaire sur l’exemplaire imprime
a Rome par Louys Zanetti 1595... Douay. 1595
Digital edition included in: University of Waterloo: La
série des lettres du Japon : éditions
publiées en français de 1571 à 1640
(In Italian) Copia
di due lettere scritte dal P. Organtino Bresciano
della Compagnia di Giesu dal Meaco del Giapone. al molto R. in
Christo P.N. il Claudio Acquaviva Preposito Generale. Tradotte
dal P. Gio Battista Peruschi Romano della medesima Compagnia.
pp. Rome.1597
(In Spanish) : P. Luis de Guzman. Historia de las missiones
que han hecho los religiosos de la Compania de Iesus, para
predicar el sancto Evangelio en la India Oriental, y en los
Reynos de la China y Iapon... 2 vols. Alcala. 1601 Volume
1. On the invasion of Korea by the Japanese a
major account is found starting on Volume
2, Book 12, Chapter 14 page 501 No
English translation of this work seems to have been published.
Juan González de
Mendoza (c. 1540 – 1617), Historia
de las cosas más notables, ritos y costumbres del
gran reyno de la China (1585.)
Earliest mentions of Korea
Juan
González de Mendoza The history of the great and
mighty kingdom of China and the situation thereof (1588)
Richard Hakluyt,
The
principall nauigations, voiages, and discoueries of the
English nation : made by sea or ouer land to the
most remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth at any
time within the compasse of these 1500 yeeres : deuided into
three seuerall parts (First edition, one volume, 1589)
Richard Hakluyt, The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques
& discoveries of the English nation, made by sea or
over-land to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the
earth at any time within the compass of these 1600 yeeres. London,
Imprinted by G. Bishop, R. Newberie and R. Barker, (Second
edition, 3 volumes, 1598-1600) Online images of Vols 1-2 in Library
of Congress ; Vol 3 in Library of
Congress; A complete
modern edition (1904)
(In Latin) Matteo Ricci. De
Christiana expeditione apud Sinas suscepta ab Societate Jesu
Amsterdam. 1615.
Samuel Purchas, Haklvytvs
posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes. Contayning a
history of the world, in sea voyages, & lande-trauells, by
Englishmen and others ... Some left written by Mr. Hakluyt at
his death, more since added, his also perused, & perfected.
All examined, abreuiated, illustrates w[i]th notes, enlarged
w[i]th discourses, adorned w[i]th pictures, and expressed in
mapps. In fower parts, each containing fiue bookes.
[Compiled] by Samvel Pvrchas. London, Imprinted for H. Fetherston,
1625. (The accounts of China translated from Ricci's book are in Volume
3)
Alvaro Semedo [Semmedo] : Imperio de la China i cultura
evangelica en èl por los religios [sic] de la
Compañia de Iesus. Compuesto por el padre Alvaro
Semmedo de la propia Compañia… ; publicado por Manuel de
Faria i Sousa… (Impresso por Iuan Sanchez en Madrid: a
costa de Pedro Coello…, 1642)
Earliest mentions of Korea
Martino Martini.
De
bello Tartarico historia, in quâ, quo
pacto Tartari hac nostrâ aetate Sinicum imperium
invaserint, ac ferè totum occuparint, narratur,
eorumque mores breviter describuntur. Antwerp. Ex officina
Plantiniana Balthasaris Moreti, 1654
Martino Martini. Bellum Tartaricum, or The
conquest of the great and most renowned empire of China, by
the invasion of the Tartars, who in these last seven years, have
wholy subdued that vast empire. Together with a map of the
provinces, and chief cities of the countries, for the better
understanding of the story. London, : Printed for John
Crook, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Ship in
St. Paul's Church-yard., 1654.
Alvaro Semedo The
history of that great and renowned monarchy of China.
Wherein all the particular provinces are accurately
described: as also the dispositions, manners, learning, lawes,
militia, government, and religion of the people. Together with
the traffick and commodities of that countrey (London
: Printed by E. Tyler for I. Crook. 1655). This book also contains a reprint of Martini's Bellum
Tartaricum from page 251.
Juan de Palafox y Mendoza. Historia
de la conquista de la China por el tartaro / escrita por …
Juan de Palafox y Mendoça, siendo obispo de la Puebla de
los Angeles y virrey de la Nueva-España y a su muerte
obispo de Osma (En Paris : acosta de Antonio Bertier …, 1670)
Juan de Palafox y Mendoza.The history of the conquest of China by the
Tartars. Together with an account of several remarkable things,
concerning the religion, manners, and customs of both nations,
but especially the latter. First writ in Spanish, by Senʹ̃or
Palafox, Bishop of Osma, and Vice-Roy of Mexico. The second
edition. And now rendred English. printed
by W. Godbid, and sold by M. Pitt, at the Angel, neat [sic] the
little north door of St. Paul's Church, 1676. (only available online through Ear;y English Texts
Online)
Johan Nieuhof. Het
Gezandtschap der Neêrlandtsche Oost-Indische Compagnie,
aan den grooten Tartarischen Cham, den tegenwoordigen Keizer
van China (1st edition: Amsterdam : Jacob van
Meurs, 1665)
Nieuhof, Johannes, An
embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces,
to the Grand Tartar Cham, emperor of China: delivered by
their excellencies Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his
imperial city of Peking wherein the cities, towns, villages,
ports, rivers, &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking
are ingeniously described by John Nieuhoff; also an epistle of
Father John Adams, their antagonist, concerning the whole
negotiation; with an appendix of several remarks taken out of
Father Athanasius Kircher; Englished and set forth with
their several sculptures by John Ogilby Esq; His Majety’s
Cosmographer, Geographick Printer, and Master of the Revels in the
Kingdom of Ireland, The
second edition, London, printed by the Author in his house
in White-Friers, M.DC. LXXIII. (1673) (the first
edition was: London : Printed by J. Macock for the author, 1669).
Hendrick Hamel.
(Dutch) Journal
van de Ongeluckige Voyage van 't Jacht de Sperwer
Rotterdam 1668
(French) Relation
du noufrage d'un vaiseau hollandois sur la Coste de l'Isle
de Quelparts. Avec la Description de Royaume de Corée.
Traduit de Flamande, par Monsieur Minutoli. A Paris, chez Thomas
Jolly, au Palis, dans la Salle des Merciers, au coin de la
Gallerie des prissonniers, la Palme & aux Armes d'Hollande1670.
This French version was translated into English by John
Churchill and published in 1704 as part (starting page
607) of the 4th volume of his A Collection of
voyages and travels with
the title An
Account of the Shipwreck of a Dutch Vessel on the Isle of
Quelpaert (this
links to the Open Library version of a microfiched 1732 edition.)
: some now first printed from original manuscripts, others now
first published in English : in six volumes with a general
preface giving an account of the progress of navigation from
its first beginning. Click
here for the 1704 edition Printed by H. C. for Awnsham and
John Churchill at the Black-Swan in Pater-noster-Row. MDCCIV.
Earliest mentions of Korea
Nicolaas Witsen Noord
en Oost Tartarye, ofte bondig ontwerp van eenige dier
landen en volken, welke voormaels bekent zijn geweest (second edition 2 volumes,
Amsterdam: Halma 1705)
Fr. Jean Baptiste du Halde. (Click here for links to digital texts of each
volume of each French edition)
(First edition)
Description géographique, historique, chronologique,
politique et physique de l’empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie
chinoise (Paris: P.G. Lemercier 1735)
(Second edition) Description géographique,
historique, chronologique, politique, et physique de
l'empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise, enrichie
des cartes générales et particulieres de ces
pays, de la carte générale et des cartes
particulieres du Thibet, & de la Corée; &
ornée d'un grand nombre de figures & de vignettes
gravées en tailledouce (1736)
Fr. Jean Baptiste du Halde. The
general history of China. Containing a geographical,
historical, chronological, political and physical
description of the empire of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea,
and Thibet. Including an exact and particular account of
their customs, manners, ceremonies, religion, arts and
sciences .. Done from the French of P. Du Halde. Volume
1; Volume
2; Volume
3; Volume
4, second edition corrected. London: John Watts. 1739.
The
account of Korea in volume 4 is divided between a
general description and a 'brief' history from Chinese
sources.
A
new general collection of voyages and travels; consisting of
the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto
published in any language; comprehending everything
remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.
by John Green (fl. 1730-1753) -- Compiler, and Thomas Astley -- Author
/ Publisher. Vol 4
(Description of China, of Korea, eastern Tartary and Tibet.
Travels through Tartary, Tibet, and Bukharia, to and from China,
1246-1698.) 1747 (Fr Regis' / Du Halde text from p319 of Vol 4 until
329, followed by Churchill's Hamel text until page 347)
The
Modern Part of an Universal History, From the Earliest
Account of Time, Compiled from Original Writers -
Vol. VIII - The History of China. S. Richardson,
London, 1759. Account of
Korea from page 520 of Volume 8 of the Universal History:
APPENDIX
to the Chinese History
The entire Universal
History was then translated into French and published as:
Histoire
Universelle, Depuis Le Commencement Du Monde Jusqu'A
Présent: Composée en Anglois par une
Société de Gens de Lettres : Nouvellement
Traduite En François Par Une Société De
Gens De Lettres. Histoire Moderne ; 14 : contenant la
suite de l'histoire de la Chine, celle de la Corée, et
partie de celle du Japon, Paris: Moutard, 1783 (the
section on Korea begins on page 387)
Jean-François
de La Harpe: a multi-volume encyclopedia Abrégé
de l'histoire générale des voyages which
was re-edited and in part re-written in the 19th century. In the
original 1780 edition, the account of Korea begins
on page 343. In
the 1820 edition, the account of Korea begins on
page 76.
Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. Voyage
de La Pérouse autour du Monde. Rédigé
par M. L. A. Milet-Mureau, Général de Brigade dans
le Corps du Génie, Directeur des Fortifications, Ex
-Constituant, Membre de plusieurs Sociétés
littéraires de Paris. Paris, Imprimerie de la
République. An 5 (1797). In four volumes plus an atlas: Volume 1;
Volume
2;
Accounts of Korea in the 18th century
Volume
3;
Accounts of Korea in the 18th century
Volume
4; Atlas
with plates, charts etc. The account of Korea
starts
on p384 of Volume 2 continued in the opening chapter of Volume 3;
Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse.
Accounts of Korea in the 18th century
A voyage round the world in the
years 1785, 1786, 1787 and 1788, by J. F. G. de la
Pérouse published conformably to the Decree
of the National Assembly on the 22d April 1791, and edited
by M. L. A. Milet-Mureau, Brigadier General in the Corps
of Engineers, Director of Fortifications, Ex-Constitutent,
and member of several literary societies at Paris. In
Three Volumes. Translated from the French. London :
Printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard. Volume
1 of 1st edition; Vol
2 of the Second Edition; Volume
3 of 1st edition; Volume
3 of 2nd edition. The English edition also included
an Atlas: Charts
And Plates To La Perouse's Voyage. The
account by Lapérouse of his journey past Korea begins on
page 351 of Volume 2 of the second edition.
William Robert Broughton. A
Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean
London: T. Cadell and Ms. Daviss. 1804
Basil Hall. Voyage to Loo-Choo, and other places in the eastern
seas, in the year 1816. (Edinburgh 1826).
The account of Korea is in Chapter
Two
Sir Edward Belcher. Narrative
of the Voyage of H.M.S. Samarang [links to volume 1;
click
here for volume 2] London : Reeve, Benham, and
Reeve, 1848. Visit to Korea in Volume 1 pages 324 - 358