竹島

That is a very interesting question. Was the Jukdo-Seokdo (竹島石島) reference in the 1900 Imperial Edict referring to Jukdo and another island named “Seokdo”? Or was it referring to Jukdo and the various other islets and rocks surrounding Ulleungdo?

I am not sure, but I have not seen any Korean maps that show a neighboring island of Ulleungdo named “Seokdo,” nor was it mentioned in any Korean document except the 1900 Imperial Edict. Moveover, here is what an 1899 Hwangseong Shinmun article said about Ulleungdo:

In the sea east of Uljin is an island named Ulleung. Of its six, small neighboring islands, Usando and Jukdo (or Usando/Jukdo) are/is the most prominent (崔著者). The Daehanjiji says that Ulleungdo is the old Country of Usan. It has an area of 100 ri. Three peaks stand out (?兀)….

Notice that the article said that Ulleungdo had “six, small neighboring islands,” including “Usando-Jukdo” (于山島竹島 -?????). If that is true, then why didn’t the 1900 edict mention those other islands? Well, maybe it did. It is possible that the “Seokdo” (石島) in the 1900 Imperial Edict was not referring to a single island named “Seokdo,” but was referring to the “other ‘rock’ islands.” As you mentioned, Korean often does not distinguish between singular and plural.

http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=453


「石島」は、鬱陵島周辺の複数ある小島（岩礁）全般に対して、言及したものだったのかな。