同文廣考 北 / Dōbunkōkō, Vol. 4

Written by Lǐ Dūn Zhòng in 1760; 33 cm by 20 cm; four books. These books describe the history, geography, and culture of different countries, and is divided into four volumes indicated as tō, zai, nan, and boku (east, west, south, and north respectively). The “Record of Ryukyu” is included with “Record of Japan” and “Record of Taiwan” in volume 3 (nan). Its content is based on Chinese historical books and records of Chinese envoys to neighboring kingdoms. Zhāng Xuélǐ’s Shi Ryukyu-ki (Record of Envoy Missions to Ryukyu) is frequently quoted. He wrote that Ryukyu was conquered by Japan, and that it belonged to both China and Japan—a situation that Ryukyu had continued to conceal, but Zhāng saw through. These books are valuable historical documents that gives insight into the perspectives of intellectuals regarding foreign countries in the late Joseon period.