sign in sign up
<<
Home , Sakhalin Gulf, Sea of Japan

- I

Russian Geographical Investigations of of North-Eastern in X VII - X VllI Centuries

S. S. Ganzei, P. Ya. Baklanov (Pacific Geographical Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, )

Since the XVI century the Russian cossaks, industrialists and military people have started their purposeful movement to the east of Ural, to New rich land geographical discoveries of unknown spases attracted them. At the same time new lands were colonized and joined to Russia.

h1 the xvn century a number of important di scoveries were made by first Russian travellers, mainly, cossack in the eastern and northern part of Asia The city of Yakutsk has become the center of main expectitions in the XVII century. The Russians began moving from Yakutsk to the south, north and east to find new lands. In 1639 a troop of cossacks headed by Ivan Moskvitin reached the of Okhotsk by the Ulie river. On the sea beach near the mouth of the Ulie river there lived Iamuti (evenD related to tungus tribes. I.Moskvitin's troops discovered the sea. It was called Lamskoe - from the tungus word "laman that means the sea, the . Later on. it was called Okhotsk. probably it is connected willi the Okhota river and the Okhotsk berg that was constructed by the Russians in 1649 near the mouth of deep Okhota river. In the xvrn century Okhotsk and then the port became the strong base for important sea expeditions and new geographical discoveries.

Thu s~ in 1639 the Russians reached the Pacific coast for the first time. This place was located near Okhotsk in the eastern part of Asia This is the very time when the Russians began to make geographical discoveries. to study and develop the Pacific coasts and the seas of Acian north- east. In 1643-1646 cossacks' troop under the leadership of Vasily Pojyarkov left Yakutsk for . Then by the river, moving

- 5 - along the coast they reached the Amur mouth and made the sea trip In , near . For the first time, in 1650-1652, Vasily Pojyarkov and later EroDhey Khabarov investigated and discribed the Amur coasts and the tribes that lived there {such as duygeri, goldi. gilyaki, daurD.

In 1648 the Russian cossack Syemyon Dezhnev went from Kolima, doubled the extreme north-east of Asia and for the first time crossed the strait that separates Asia from America. Later this strait was called the . In 1697- 1699 Vladimir Atlasov organized an expedition. A part of geographical discovery and the description of Kamchatka belongs to him. Atlasov's troop left the Anadir burg and went along the western coast of Kamchatka upto the south of peninsula. Thus, by the end of the xvn century the first and complete data on the eastern margins and seas, adjoining them in the east and north-east, were collected. AU these were demonstrated on geographical maps - "dravings H which were compiled on Ute base of data obtained during these expeditions.

Being preserved till the present time, the cartographical materials of the xvn centures could not be acknowledged as geographical maps because there was no the degree grid. In compiling them, exact measurements were not made. Nevertheless, these materials show us the level of geographical notions typical of that period. of time. The maps or "drawings" did not give the real picture of a number of million square kilometers of the SilJerian territory, its rivers and sea coasts.

The "drawings", which was made in 1667 under Godunov's leadership (Titov. 1890) was one of the finlt carrographicai works of that period of time The list, attached to GocJ.unov 's drawing describes the way to China, gives data on a number of Siberian rivers including Amur. Godunov's map shows that the way from Kolima river to Amur was open. Soon in 1672 a new more detaled "Drawing of the Siberian Land" was compiled. Its author is unknown. Being made in 1672. the drawing has "A list from the drawing Siberian Lands" (Titov, 1890), in which the following description is given: "And Anarur river has two land ways: to Lama river and to Bludnaya river. And Bludnaya river entered the Amur river. And Lama river entered the Arnur sea And Bludnaya river entered Kolima river. Kolima entered Lenskoye sea... ". There we find one of the first mentions of the name of marine aquatories in the east of Siberia. It is necessary notice that Godunov's drawing showed AmUT

- 6 - river in the south-east of Siberia.

In 1687, in the book "Noord en Oost Tartarye (the North and Eastern Tartaria, cited by L.C.Bagrov, 1914) Nic Witzen's map was published (fig.l). This map was the copy of Godunov' s drawing. But we find a number of geographical names of the sea aquatories on it. The ocean is called Oceanus Orientalis (The Eastern Ocean), the Amur Sea (Aruur Se Zee) is located opposite the mouth of Amur river. The peninsula is shown as an . The Chinese sea (Sinese Zee) is situated to the west and southward of it.

Semen Remezov's "Drawing book of Siberia" is the more famous map at that period of time. It was produced in 1690-1700 (fig. 2). "The Drawing Book of Siberia" summed up all geographical materials. This geographical idea was tile top of geographical thought in Russia. But many cartographical notions were not exact and naive. For example, a wellknown scientists AF.Middendorff (1860) remarks "... the ooundary lines are combined to the framework of the map itself". The map is oriented to the south. The sea aquatory is shown in the east as the sea-ocean (Akyan). Together with it, Kamchatka is shown as a island; (Aponiya) is shown as an island; Korea (Kopea), Korean peninsula, the Amur river entering the Sea (Amur sea ?), the Chinese Kingdom and many other things are also shown on the map.

It is necessary to mention how the western European geographers of the 17th century imagine the seas of the Eastern Asia. For example, on the map of Tartarya, Orteliya (or Tatariya, this name was used for a longtime make the vastspase the east of Ural) that was published in 1570 (fig.3), the sea space between Japan and the mainland was marked as Mare CIN or Chinese Sea. On the map of hemispheres

Aceanus Coinensis. Being published In 1680, the History of Siberia by YU.Krizhanovich describes the question about the existence of the strait between the Sea and the Eastern or Chinese Sea. While considering this question, we find names of the seas washering Siberia in the east. Thus, data on the names of the Sea aquatories situated in the Asian east were contradictory and common, such as the Eastern Sea, the Eastern Asia and the Marginal Ocean, etc.

- 7 - _ l

By the late of the 17th century Nikolai Spaphary (1675-1678), the Russian diplomat, made a trip. This trip was very important because it fonned new ideas in tenns of Geography. He wrote about the boundaries of China located in the east. behind China there lics a very large island. The distance between this island and the Chinese boundaries is about 700 versts (8 verst is 3500 ft. It is translated from the Old ). It's name is Japoniya. This island is the more ricbes than the Chinese Kingdom. By the results of his Travelling Spaphary prepared a hook "The description of the first part of the Easth called Asia, the Chinese Kingdom with other cities and provinces" (1677, cited by Lebedev, 1949). In his book Spaphary touches the questions about the geographical position of China. He gives characteristics of parts of the World, such as Asia, , Liviya and America.

Further, it is said that in the eastern part Asia is separated from the other pans of the world by the ocean Eastern Sea. and in the north - only by the Ocean Arctic Sea. and from the midday (noon) - by the Indian and . In another work -" The Narration about the Great Amur River that devided the Russian settlement with China", Spaphary acknowledged that it was possible to sail to the south from the Amur River. He writes - "One can go from Arnur to China. But it is very far. It is necessary to go round the great nose of Korea which extends to the sea ... " (Lebedev,1949). Spaphary evidences were very important for futher geographical studies of the Eastern Asia Seas in Russia. because at that time the basic strategic goal of the Russian Government was to solve two objectives: to find the ways how to get to America and to look for the Sea way to China and Inma.

The Russian geographical studies of the 17th century were connected with the activity of two great rulers - Peter the First (1682-1725) and Ekaterina the Great (1729-1796). By the early 17th century Russia found the ways to the . It strengthened its economic ties with the . More and more often Peter the First dreamed of finding the ways to India, China, Japan and America. G.Perry an Englishman, who worked in Russia, heard many times how zar expressed hi s thoughts " ... to send people to draw a true map in oder to find out if it is possible for the ships to pass near New Zealand and reach the Sea of Tatar in the east... There one could build ships to sail to the Chinese and Japanese shores", Peter the First was eager to figure out how far the Far Eastern lands extend and whether they are opened to capture them.

- 8 - Let us to draw our attention to three main expedition made by the Russian investigators at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1700 Michail Nasedkin discovered that to the south from Kamchatka, behind the strait there is a land. This was the reason why in 1711-1713 Danil Antsipherov organized expedition. They investigated some northen Kurile . In 1715-1717 the marine expedition headed by Kuzma Sokolov, investigated the western part of Kamchatka and reached Okhotsk by sea for the first time. Since that time the sea trips from Okhotsk to Kamchatka became regular. In 1725-1743 Vitus Bering organized the expedition. Before Peter the First died, he wrote the instructin, addressed Vitus Bering in which he wanted the expedition to solve task: to flgure out whether the strait between Asia and America exists. As a result of the first Siberian-Pacific expedition (1725-1730), Vitus Bering went along the eastern coast of Chukotka Peninsuly by the strait, Which was afterwanls named by him, and opened the Krest Gulf, Provedeniya Bay and StDiomid Island. In 1m another expedition was organized by A.Shestakov and D.Prelutsky. The goal of this expedition was to fJgUre out if there are anby oppotunities to sail from the to the Eastern Sea. To find the way to Japan from Amur Mouth was another goal of the expedition being discussed in the course of its fonnation. During thls expedition Shestakov passed away. In 1730 the expedition was continued by G.Fedorov and M.Gvozdev being the first Russians who in 1732 reached the American coasts. By their materials the first map of the Bering strait was compiled.

To confmn the results of the first Bering's eXIX'!dition and Fedorov and Gvozdev's expeditions (i.e. the existence of the strait which unites the North and Eastern Seas as well as searching the shortest ways to Japan and the establishment of friendly relationships between Russia and Japan) the second Siberian-Pacific (Kamchatka) expedition was organized by the Russian Govenment (1733- 174]). At that time Russia and western contries did not know much about the outlines of Japan. Eastward of the lezo (, MatmaD a large Island of Slates is known. Further to the east Gammi Land is shown (Beiker,l9"JO). Accoding to Holland travellers data, who visited this area in the 17th century, these lands were very rich. Besides that, the Iezo Island was often united with Asia and America on the map. The second Siberian- Pacific expedition was divided. into two groups: V.Scring and AChirikov investigated the way to the , whereas M.Shpanberg's group

- 9 - investigated way from Kamchatka to Japan (Berg.l946).

The expedition. headed by V.Bering and A.Chirikov. began in 1734 from Yakutsk to Okhotsk. But only in 1740 they manage to see the sea and sail to Kamchatka. In 1741 they left the eastern shores of Kamchatka (the Avachinskaya Bay), came to America and reached the Alaska shores. The conditions of expedition were extremely difficult. Many people died because of deseases (including Vitus Bering, 1741). During V.Bering and A.Chorokov's expedition the Bering Strait, the north-eastern coasts of America - Alaska, Aleutian Islands and Bering Island were discovered for the second time after Dezhnev. The pictures of the Sea of Okhotsk shores were taken.

In 1739-1742 M.Shpanberg's detachment investigated and mapped Kurile Islands, a part of Sakhalin and went along the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island. Finally. for the first time M.Shpanberg's expedition found the way to Japan from the north and proved that Gamma did not exit, and State Island and Companiya Land are two islands of Kurile Range.

In the second half of the 17th century, after the second Siberian-Pacific expedition, Russian studies were concentrated on the description of Alaska shores and Aleutian and Komandar Islands that can be explained by the active development of Russian America. Krenitsin and Levashov's expeditions to Aleutian Islands were the largest at that period of time. In 1791 Bocharov described the northern shore of Alaska peninsula. In 1790- 1792 LA.Sariehev (1802) described Aleutian, Komandar and other islands located in . The maps of marine aquatories of Eastern Asia were based on rich materials of Russian sea expeditions.

In 1713- 1715 the. drawing (fig.5) of Kamchatka. Kurile and Janan Islands (Lebedev,1949) was made by C.I.Remezov. Unfortunately, this drawing does not contain geographical names. It only gives a general picture and show that at the beginning of the 18th century Russian inverstigators thought that Kamchatka was a peninsula. and Kurile and Japan Islands were located Southward of Kamchatka.

In 1713 the map of Asia by B.O.Kupriyanov was pUblished (Ephimov.l950), on which led.so land was shown and the marine aquatory was called - the western Ocean?!

- 10 - In 1724 I.K.Kirilov (Lebedev.l950) compiled a handmade map "A map of tbe geographical part of Far Eastern Siberia and Tatariya and new lands of Kamchatka and Japanese islands based on the maps that was compiled by Geodesists Ivan Evreinov and Fedor Luzhin. who in 1719 were sent by Peter the First to find out if Asia and America adjoin each other and on the map did receive from emperor Kahshi" (fig.6). Later after discussions with I.ShestacQv. whose map was very popular (fig.7), this map was supplemented (Ephimov,l950). These maps demonstrated the outlines of Kamchatka better than other maps but Kurile Islands, Sakhalin and the norhtern part of Japan were shown rather rough. The signitures written on the , map of the marine aquatory, dividing Japan and Korean peninsuly, are worthy of note:" The shore of Kingdom (state?) Which is called Korea. Up to the ArnuT River it was copy from Chinese maps".

In 1725 in Nerenberg Goman's Atlas was I>.lblished (Lebedev.l950) that showed the territory from Chukotka to Japan (fig.8). The sea, situated northward of Sakhalin, is called Lamskoye, Penzhinskoe Sea. The aQuatory. located in the southern and eastern part of Sakhalin. is called the Eastern Ocean. Later in 1759 this map was produced once again (Ephimov,19f:'()}. It was called" The newest outlines of Asia" (fig9). There are three names (such as Lamskoye, Penzhinskoye Sea. Meridional Sea (Mare Meridionale) for the present aQuatory of the Sea of Okhotsk on the given map. In the east, along Japanese Islands, the Japanese marginal sea is shown and in the western part - the Eastern Sea of Japan.

In 1733 I.Kirilov prepared a hand-made map "A generel Map of Russia" (Atlas of Geographical discoveries in the 17-1Bth centuries,I964) was I>.lblished in 1734. On this map the aquatory of the present Sea of Okhotsk is called Kamchatkoe Sea In the south and in the east water surfaces are occupied with the Eastern Ocean (fig.lO). Easternward of Iezo Land

- 11 - As for the cartographic ideas about Eastern Asia, there were contradictions between Russian and Western European cartographers. Seuter's map of Russia (fig.13) published in 1739. might serve as an example of such a contradiction (the map is represented by L.S.Bagrov,1914). For example, the Sea of Japan is situated on situ of present Bering Sea, Sakhalin Island is located further north than Arnur River; the matine aquatory, situated between Korea peninsula. Japan and Kamchatka is occupied with Kamchatka Bay. On the base of the expeditions, organized by Russian inverstigators in the first part of the 18th century, the Russian Atlas was published by the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1745. A general map of the Russian Empire is attached to this Atlas (fig.14). This map is taken from L.C.Berg 's book (1926). On the sDOt of the present Sea of Okhotsk there is Kamchatkoe Sea; eastward of Kamchatka the is located; eastward of Sakhalin Island along the coast of present Primorskii Krai the Pacific Sea is situated. It is necessary to mention that the terms - the Eastern Ocean, the Pacific Ocean. the Eastern Sea and the Pacific Sea are often used as synonyms in the modem geographical literature of that perioo of time.

As for the maps of the second part of the xvn centuries, we can mark out only "The map of Irkutsk Government Treskota, 1716" (fig.lS), on which Okhotskoe Sea is shown, it is ca1led Lama in tungus language (Bagrov,1914).

The Russian cartographers of the xvrn centuries often showed the aquatories, occupied with present Okhotsk and Bering Seas, on their maps. The marine aquatory, located southwards of Sakhalin Island. between Japanese Islands and Asian mainland, was not the object of great interest. The thing is that at that time period of time the boundary between the Russian Empire and Chinese State was drawn approximately by 550N and in the east - approximately by 1400E. In 1771 a concrete name the Sea of Korea is given to this sea. We found it in the encyclopedia "Britanica". This name was widely used by the Russian geographers who investigated the Eastem Asia. V.M.Golovnin (1972) describes his adventures in his notes when he was taken prisoner by Japanese people in 1811. 1812 and 1813. and he mentions G.I.Sarichev 's travelling. He writes (p.39) that "... on the 6th of August, 1792 they left Avachin Guba. They intend to describe Korean Sea and went south-west along the Kuril Range. But because the fogs, they did not manage to sec the land till August. 20. It

- 12 -

- - - - - ______....J was too late. and they could not describe Korean Sea and to come back". After the French traveller La Perouse crossed the strrut for the first time, the Korean Sea was called Tatar Sea by him. Now the strait is named after him.

Thus, in the xvrn century the geographical names of the Russian reflected. the complex period of geographical stadics and development of these vast marine spases. At different periods of time in the XVIII century the Bering Sea was called Pacific, Eastern. Japanese and Anadir. In the xvm century the modem Sea of Okhotsk had also many names, such as Lamskoye, Penzhinskoye, the Kamchatka Bay and Okhotskoe. The part of the sea, near the Amur Mouth was called the Arnur Sea. The history of marine aQuatory's name, which divides the Japanese Islands and mainland is not simple. At different periods of time in the XVIII century this sea had the followin names: Eastern. Pacific. Chinese. Tatar. Japan, Marginal Japanese, Sea of Japan, Sea of Korea.

From the very ftrst days vast Russian- American colonies were provided through Siberia and Okhotsk that was a matter of some difficulties. Therefore, there appeared a thought to supply colonies by sea. As a result, at the beginning of the XIX century marine expeditions round the world were organized. The first of them was organized by I.F.Kruzenshtem and Yu.F.Lisynsky (1803-1805); they started in Kronshtadt (Sankt Petersburg). One of the tasks of expedition was to take the embassy to Japan in order to establish the trade relations with this country. The embassy was not accepted by Japan. IF.Kruzenshternrs expedition repeated La Perouse's way along the eastern shores of Japan, southern coast of Sakhalin and crossed La Perouse Strait In 1813 by the result of the expedition, Atlas was published (Atlas, 1813). Later (1826) G.I.Sarichev's Atlas "The Atlas of the Northern Part of Eastern Ocean" was published. Being compiled by the results of I.F.Kruzenshtem's marine triP. the map of the Pacific (fig. IS) was involved in this Atlas. The Anadir Sea is marked in the northern part of Bering sea, the Sakhalin Sea is shown in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk along the eastern coast of Sakhalin. The marine aquatory, located between Japan and the mainland is called the Sea of Japan; in the northern part of this sea Tatar strait is soown, whereas Sakhalin is shown as a peninsula. In 1849 this mistake was corrected by G.1Nevelskoy's investigations who proved that there existed the strait between Sakhalin and the mainland (J878). On all the lates Russian geographical maps the

- 13 -

.. _ ------' manne aquatory, located westward of the Japanese Islands, lS called the Sea of Japan.

Conclusion

Every sea of the Eastern Russia can pretend to different names. For example, the Sea of Okhotsk can called either Kamchatskoye Sea or Lamskoye Sea, But for about two hundred of years (1650-1850) Okhotsk was the main POrt from which great Russian geographical expeditions started. Therefore, such a name as the Sea of Okhotsk is more proved by history. Berin Sea also had some names, such as Kamchatskoye, Pacific and Bobrovoye. But Vitus Bering solved one of the main problems, existing for a number of centuries in Russia and Europe. He discovered the marine way from the North-Eastern Asia to America. And completely proved the existence of the strait between Asia and America that gave the right to his followers to rename Kamchatskoye Sea. Now it is called Bering Sea.

The Sea of Japan can claim on the different names, such as Eastern, Sea of Korea, Pacific, T atar and Sea of Japan, But in spite of since the XIX century such name as the Sea of Japan is used in the Russian geographical literature. We consider that it can be explained by the long isolation of Japan and by the fact that Japan did not wish to establish any trade relation with Russia and other European countries. At the same time it were performance about great riches of this country, much more than China, It was "Eastern India" in the dreams. The fl"C()ucnt attempts to rich this country were unsuccessful. Apparently. all these facts influensed to the Russian geographers to use the name Sea of Japan for the marine aquatory, opening the way to Japan.

The authors thank the Society of Study of Amurskyi Krai for the opportunity of using the library and archives of the Society.

- 14 -

._ ------______....1 Literature

Atlas about captain Kruzenshtem's travelling around the World. Sankt Petersburg, 181 3.

Atlas of the Northern part of the Eastern Ocean. Sunkt Petersburg, 1826.

L.S.Bagrov. Maps of the Asian Russia Petrogr., 1914, 28 p.

L.S.Berg. PacifIc Ocean, Russian Scientific studies. Moskow, 1926, p.1-24.

L.S.Berg. Notes about the history of Russian geographic discoveries. Moscow-Leningrad, AS USSR, 1946, 358 p.

G.Beiker. History of geographical dicoveries. Moscow. Foreign litereture, 1950. 645 p.

Deeds of Russian. rnanne officers In the extreme 1849-1855. PreAmurskyi Krai, PreUssuriyskyi Krni. Posthumous notes written by admiral Nevelskoy. Sankt Petersburg. 1878, 424p.

A.V,Ephimov. From the history of Great Russian Geographic discoveries in the Arctic and Pacific . The XVII and the flrth part xvm centuries. Moscow. Geograpbgiz. 1950, 317p.

D.M.Lebedev. Geography in Ru ssia in the xvn centiry (pre-Peter the First epoch). Moscow-Leningrad. AS USSR, 1949. 235p.

D.M.Lebedev. Geography 10 Russia m the Peter the First period. Moscow-Leningrad. AS USSR, 1950, 383p. lP.Magidovich. Notes about the histoI1' of geographic dicoveries. Moscow.: Prosveshchenie, 1967. 714p.

- 15 -

T A.F.Middendorff. Travelling to the North and East Siberia. Sankt Petersburg, part 1, p.38- 39.

Notes of captain Golovnin I s fleet about his adventurics when he was a pnsoner in Japan in 1811, 1812 and 1813 ... Khabarovsk, 1972, 526p.

G.Perri. The state in Russia headed by the present zar. Moscow, 1871. pAO.

G,A.Sarichev. Travelling of captain Sarichev fleet along the North- Eastern part of Siberian, Arctic Ocean and Eastem Sea during 8 yaers, organized by Geographical and Astronomic marine expedition under the leadership of captain Billings from 1785 to 1793. Part I and II. Sankt Petersburg, 1002, New edition, Moscow, 1952.

ATitov. Siberts in XVII century. Moscow, 1890,

- 16 -