1904 Japanese Manuscript Map of the Battle of Port Arthur, Russo-Japanese War

A remarkable survival, this c. 1904 Japanese-language manuscript map provides an overview of the Japanese blockade and siege of Port Arthur, the pivotal battle of the Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905). Though the siege lasted months and Japanese progress was costly, the ultimate destruction of Russia's Pacific fleet and the surrender of the garrison left Japan in a commanding position in East Asia, which it would maintain until World War II (1939 - 1945).

A Closer Look

Oriented towards the northeast, the map covers the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, including the fortress and harbor of Port Arthur, now part of the Lüshunkou (旅順口) District of Dalian. Russian and Japanese ships are numbered, corresponding to an index at bottom-left. The precarious position of the Russians is readily apparent; a phalanx of Japanese ships waits to barrage any Russian ship that attempts to escape the harbor. On land, topographic features such as mountains and waterways, fortifications, railways, and settlements are indicated. The solid pinkish-red lines connecting settlements and fortifications are not explained but may be roads used for supplies. Local features are named, such as several parts of 'Old Iron Mountain' (老鉄山) and villages such as Changlingzi (長嶺子) and Wangjiatun (王家屯). The 'old town' (旧市街), shaded with grey diagonal lines, is today the Guangrong (光荣) District of Lüshunkou.

Port Arthur and the Russo-Japanese War

The Russo-Japanese War, fought from February 8, 1904 - September 5, 1905, pitted Imperial Japan against Tsarist Russia over rival ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. Both Russia and Japan had grand visions for the region. Russia traditionally had only one Pacific port, Vladivostok, which was operational only during the warm summer months. In 1898, Russia coerced China, then weakened after the First Sino-Japanese War (1894 - 1895), to lease them Port Arthur, a warm water port on the Liaodong Peninsula. They also negotiated a right-of-way to connect Port Arthur to the China Eastern Railway, which ran from nearby Jinzhou (Dalian, Dalniy) to Harbin, and ultimately linked up with the Trans-Siberian Railway. Port Arthur was heavily fortified and thus became the cornerstone of a sphere of influence covering Manchuria and Korea.

Japan had its own imperial designs and saw itself as the natural overlord in East Asia, particularly after their victory in the First Sino-Japanese War. Korea and Manchuria were also important to the Japanese as stepping stones into China, with its seemingly unlimited resources. There was initially some attempt at negotiation between the imperialist powers. Given the size of Russia's military and the high financial costs of war, the Japanese leadership was far from unified on a decision to attack Russia. But the hawks won the debate. Tsar Nicholas II arrogantly believed it impossible for Japan to challenge a major European power. Japan proved him wrong, launching a surprise attack on the Russian fleet stationed at Port Arthur on February 8, 1904. The battle was inconclusive, but over the following months, the Imperial Japanese Navy maneuvered to trap the Russian ships at port.

In the meantime, Japanese troops had landed in Korea and rapidly advanced to the Liaoning Peninsula. But they saw only slow and costly progress against the heavily fortified Russian positions approaching Port Arthur. Still, Japan's bombardments and attacks began to chip away at the well-entrenched Russian troops. After several failed breakout attempts, what remained of the Pacific Fleet was still bottled up at Port Arthur. Massive artillery pieces were brought in to attack the fortifications at Port Arthur and the Russian ships in the harbor. The Japanese were able to advance slowly with heavy losses while also utilizing the new heavy artillery and sapper operations. With the prospect of reinforcements dim and disease decimating their troops, the Russian General Anatoly Stessel, commander of the Port Arthur garrison, surrendered to the Japanese on January 2, 1905.

The Russian Baltic Fleet, sent to relieve Port Arthur, arrived in East Asia after the port's surrender following a harrowing journey, only to be ambushed and resoundingly defeated by Japanese ships in the Straits of Tsushima. In addition to these stunning setbacks, the costs of the war and simmering discontent at home forced the Tsar to negotiate. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt arbitrated a peace, confirmed by the Treaty of Portsmouth.

The treaty recognized Japan's claims on Korea and called for the evacuation of Russian forces from Manchuria. Port Arthur was handed over to the Japanese, as was the southern section of the China Eastern Railway, which became known as the South Manchuria Railway. The company created to manage the railway, the South Manchuria Railway Company (Mantetsu), soon developed into a mega-conglomerate, overseeing hotels, mines, mills, power plants, and much more, that expanded Japanese influence in Manchuria to the point that it became a virtual colony, before becoming the puppet state of Manchukuo in 1932. By the 1930s, Mantetsu was the largest company in Japan and formed a significant portion of the Japanese economy.

The victory of Imperial Japan came as a surprise to international observers, being the first major military victory in the modern era of an Asian over a European power. The consequences transformed the global balance of power and confirmed Japan as the pre-eminent power in East Asia.

Publication History and Census

This manuscript map was drawn by an unknown Japanese cartographer, most likely in mid-late 1904. As a manuscript map, it is a unique creation with no other examples.