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CHAPTER VI.
KOREA.
HE peninsula which projects between the Japanese and Yellow Seas
southwards in the direction of the southern islands of Nippon is
completely limited landwards. Like Italy, with which it may be
compared in extent, and even to some degree in its orographic con-
figuration, it is separated from the mainland by the Alpine Taipei-
shan, or " Great White Mountains," of Manchuria. It has also its Apennines
stretching north and south, and forming the backbone of the peninsula. As in
Italy, the western slope of the highlands forms, throughout their central and
southern sections, the vital portion of the peninsula. Here is developed the course
of the Han-kiang, the Korean Tiber, and here is situated the city of Seul, present
capital of the kingdom. In Korea, as in Italy, the eastern seaboard is uniform,
and almost destitute of inlets, while the west side is deeply indented by gulfs and
bays, rich in islands and small archipelagos.
Nevertheless these general resemblances do not descend to minor details. The
north-east frontier, towards Russian ^Manchuria, is very mountainous and of diffi-
cult access, whereas the plains of the Yalu-kiang valley present towards the north-
west an easy natural passage from the interior of the peninsula to the Chinese
province of Liaotung. In this direction the two frontier states thought it neces-
sary to create a sort of " marca," or neutral zone, as a line of reciprocal defence,
by leaving a broad tract uninhabited and uncultivated on the north-west side of
the Yalu-kiang. Till
recently peaceful settlers in this region were liable to capital
punishment, although banditti made it their camping ground, endangering the
trade route running to the " Gate of Korea," near the city of Fungwang-shan
(Fenghoang-cheng), or " Castle of the Yellow Wind." But according to the latest
accounts the neutral zone, which has an area of about 5,600 square miles, is begin-
ning to be brought under cultivation. Chinese settlers are gradually encroaching
and reclaiming the land, while some Koreans have on their side already formed
settlements beyond the frontier.
Like most regions of the extreme East, Korea is known to foreigners by a name
which has little currency in the country itself. This term, belonging formerly to
the petty state of Korie, has been extended by the Chinese and Japanese to the