Korea and Her Neighbours (Pacific Basin Books) [Paperback]

Isabella Bird (Author), Pat Barr (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0710301359 | ISBN-13: 978-0710301352 | Publication Date: January 4, 1985

Isabella Bird's account of her journeys in Korea in 1898 represents one of the very rare accounts of that country in the latter part of the nineteenth century. At that time Korea was virtually a forbidden land and had only been open to foreigners for about ten years. It was and had been under Chinese influence for centuries. The trip was very difficult but so fascinating that, true to character, Isabella adored it. She undertook many arduous jouneys by land and river, observed the breathtakingly beautiful countryside, visited the Buddhist monasteries and had many audiences with the Korean king and his soon to be assassinated queen. While Isabella was on her journey the Japanese invaded Korea and she had to leave hastily, ending up in China, penniless.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (January 4, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0710301359
• ISBN-13: 978-0710301352
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,768,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a very lovely book, October 29, 1999

By 

guinevere "guinevere" (skyscraper) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Korea and Her Neighbours (Pacific Basin Books) (Paperback)

this books tells more than just facts about korea one hundred years ago. she-isabella bishop-wrote it on her experience in korea. she traveled every mountain,river and road on her foot, well, actually, somtimes in a boat and carriage. anyway, though it was very hard time then and she had not only pleasant experiences, her love to the country shines throughout the book. i think it is lucky for us korean that she wrote this book.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praiseworthy historical account of Korea, November 18, 2005

By 

happy teaju "happybose" (Foothill Ranch, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Korea & Her Neighbours Hb (Kegan Paul Travellers Series) (Hardcover)

Isabella Bird did a wonderful job in describing her first-hand experience of Korea and its society before Japanese occupation. Her striving for accuracy and fairness is commendable and many pictures show glipmse of life in Korea in late 19th century.

12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading about the Past to See Today's Future, July 2, 2001

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Korea and Her Neighbours (Pacific Basin Books) (Paperback)

KOREA AND HER NEIGHBOURS is a book that is eerily prescient about Korea. It is also provides glimpses of Korea as it was before Japan's Occupation. It has all the confidence of its time, but has some drawbacks.

KOREA AND HER NEIGHBOURS was written by a remarkable woman, Isabella Bird Bishop, an independent British Victorian lady who had also written books about Japan and the US. She toured Korea four times between March 1894-7, and also toured Manchuria and Korean settlements in the Russian Far East. She visited Pusan, Seoul, and Pyongyang, and also sailed the Han River on a raft and climbed the Diamond Mountains. Her accounts and opinions are unusually precise and honest, and still meaningful. Other topics of discussion include marriage customs, shamanism, political events, accounts of the Sino-Japanese War, Koreans in exile, and interviews with the Korean royal family.

The book also includes photographs, particularly useful and informative, since the Japanese destroyed many of the royal households during the Occupation.

Bishop had the opportunity to see parts of Korea that most foreigners have not seen since the Korean War and the division of the peninsula. Although she is very critical of the Korean government and upper classes, she develops a fondness and sympathy for the people of Korea. But, that does not impede her honesty, and she criticizes common behavior and customs readily.

Although the book is full of information, whether it be political, historical, sociological, or naturalistic, her Victorian viewpoint is very apparent. Her faith in Japanese (and Russian) assistance to develop Korea is uncannily prescient, if only naive. Confronted with the account of the murder of Queen Min by the Japanese, she can only plead special pardon for the Japanese, whom she sees as enlightened saviors. Her belief in development is well-meant, but is too simplistic for such a backward country as Korea was. But her account of foreign efforts to reform Korea are expansive (she includes ample appendices and transcripts of government documents). She is a firm believer in a form of democratic republicanism not seen since the First World War.

This is a treasure for students of Korea and Asia, but also for students of the late 19th Century. This very spirited, independent woman amazingly travelled alone, accompanied only by hired men, down rivers and up mountains in summer and winter, walked across battlefields, waded through slums, and interviewed kings, queens, and politicians. This is not only a triumph of scholarship, but of adventure.