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Description

Fine large map of Korea and contiguous parts of China, published in 1904 or Meiji 37.

The map was issued during the early days of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), including the Japanese invasion of China and Korea, and the conflict that ensued with Russia.

The map covers all of Korea, and extends north to Valdivostok and south to Shandong China, including Qingdao, and Liaoning, including Dalian.

The map was created at the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905).  The Russians and Japanese were struggling for control of Port Arthur, which would be surrendered to the Japanese who defeated the Russian Fleet in December of 1905.

The Russians and the Japanese were both part of the eight member international force sent in 1900 to quell the Boxer Rebellion and relieve the international legations under siege in Beijing. As with other member nations, the Russians sent troops into Beijing. Russia had already sent 177,000 soldiers to Manchuria, in part to protect its railways under construction. The troops of the Qing empire and the participants of the Boxer Rebellion could do nothing against this massive army. As a result, the Qing troops were ejected from Manchuria and the Russian troops settled in. Russia assured the other powers that it would vacate the area after the crisis.

By 1903, the Russians had not yet established any timetable for withdrawal and had actually strengthened their position in Manchuria. Over the course of the next 12 months, Japan and Russia negotiated unsuccessfully, leading to a declaration of War by Japan on February 8, 1904. The War lasted until January 1905 and resulted in the surrender of the Russians and termination of its presence in the area around Korea and Manchuria.