This map was published on October 15, 1894 to provide real-time news to a Japanese audience of the Sino-Japanese War, which was fought between Japan and China over control of the Korean Peninsula. Prior to the war, Korea was a tributary state of the Qing dynasty of China, however, Japan was intent on expanding its influence in Korea. Chinese and Japanese forces came to a head in Korea as a result of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, which began in January 1894. The Korean government requested military assistance to stop the uprising, and both China and Japan responded by dispatching troops. Tensions escalated between the two powers and war was officially declared on August 1. Japan's modernized military led to early successes against the Chinese, who had not yet fully implemented their Self-Strengthening Movement to bolster their military, and led to China ending the war by signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki in April 1895. The treaty forced China to lose its interest in Korea and cede the island of Taiwan to Japan.

This map shows China, Korea and Japan, identifying roads, railroad and shipping routes. At bottom right are inset maps with bird's-eye plans of Beijing, Shanghai and Canton, as well as close-ups of various coastlines around China and Korea where battles took place. Issued on eight sheets, joined.

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Condition: B

There is toning and soiling with several larger stains at top right. The map has been professionally backed to repair a number of fold separations and small holes at fold intersections, with small loss of image.