From the category archives:

Korea

The Chinese wall of isolation

February 23, 2009

1929 The rich flora of China, still only superficially studied and known only from fragments brought back by European and American travellers, hides very much of great value. Tung-oil trees (Vernicia fordii and V. cordata), guttapercha-producing eucommias (Eucommia ulmoides) and thousands of woody and herbaceous annual and perennial ornamental plants have penetrated into European and [...]

Read the full article →

Independence of the ancient East Asiatic centre

February 18, 2009

1929 The East Asiatic cycle of my expedition ended in Korea. The acquaintance made with Chinese culture at its periphery in the province of Sinkiang [Xinjiang] and the local studies thereof in Taiwan, Korea and Japan led me to definite conclusions regarding the complete originality of this important culture, the absolutely unique composition of the [...]

Read the full article →

You must have faith

February 9, 2009

1929 When returning to Seoul from the western part of Korea and stopping along the road in villages and at estates, I was directed to a special government farm for cultivation of ginseng. The legendary ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a remedy against all kinds of illnesses, a most astounding medium with which many fantastic stories [...]

Read the full article →

A territory still barely touched

February 5, 2009

1929 In contrast to the southern areas of China, Korea is to a great extent represented by a territory still barely touched and in need of roads, improvement of forests by removal of worthless trees and shrubs and regulated irrigation. The farther one proceeds into the interior, the more primitive the landscape becomes. Plowed fields [...]

Read the full article →

Korea: a group different

February 4, 2009

1929 Korea was occupied by the Japanese in 1904. Koreans have their own language and ethics, constituting a group different from the Chinese and the Japanese. Clothing, customs, lifestyle and, psychology of the Koreans are also noticeably different. White cloths and a small black cap, covering only part of the head, are common attributes of [...]

Read the full article →