[KS] A Question about the term hanbando

[Bill McCloy]

The word “bandao” (Korean “pando”) is indeed used in Chinese, though I do not know its origin.  It never seemed odd to me as the English word “peninsula” is derived from Latin “paene” and “insula” meaning “almost an island”.  Whoever coined it either came up with a similar idea or knew the origin of the English (or other foreign) word.

 

Bill

 

William B. McCloy

Assistant Librarian for

  East Asian Law

University of Washington

Gallagher Law Library

Box 353025

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Tel. (206) 543-7447

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  _____  

From: koreanstudies-bounces at koreaweb.ws [mailto:koreanstudies-bounces at koreaweb.ws] On Behalf Of Christopher Liao
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 5:59 PM
To: koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws
Subject: [KS] A Question about the term hanbando

 

A Question about the term hanbando

 

Dear listmembers,

 

 Im Dae-sik, the head editor of yŏksa pipy'ŏng had asked me to translate the following and to solicit your opinions about the word "the Korean peninsula " (hanbando). 

 

Christopher Liao

 
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             I'm curious about the origins of the term hanbando (韓半島). Korea is also known by the name "hanbando. " This name also appears in the article regarding sovereign territory in the South Korean constitution. It collectively refers to the two Koreas and distinguishes the two from other nations and nationalities. South Koreans are instilled with a sense of ethnic pride when they vocalize the word hanbando. I am curious about the origins of this word. 

             I am guessing this term was first used or popularized by the Japanese as early as the 1900s. I have seen hanbando in the title of Japanese books published during this time. 

             Hanbando is a combination of han and bando. Here the meaning of han differs from the South Korean meaning of "Korea, " and the Japanese usage of this Chinese character carried connotations of derogation towards Korea. As evidenced by the inclusion of this Chinese character in the combinations such as "三韓征伐論 " (sankan seibatsuron in Japanese) and "征韓論" (seikanron in Japanese), it tends to consider "Korea " in an inferior light. If we take a look at Japanese documents before the Meiji Reformation, instead of Chōsen, we find that Han was actually used more widely to refer to Korea. The Japanese usage of Han was similar to the Korean usage of wae (倭) to refer to Japan from a position of authority. 

             Moving on to bando, I am guessing that it is a Japanese translation of the English word "peninsula." Although a peninsula is certainly not an island, there is a high possibility that "peninsula" was originally coined by the Japanese to mean "semi-island " due to Japan's worldview derived from its existence as an island nation. Both China and South Korea use the word bando to refer to a peninsula. I infer that this Japan-centric translation of this word is widely used throughout the Chinese-character-cultural sphere. 

             I am interested in how the term bando came to be translated from the English word "peninsula " and what process it went through before settling firmly within the languages of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. I am also interested in soliciting your views on an alternative translation of the English word "peninsula. " 

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