Korean Records of a Probable Tsunami in the Japan Sea in May 1415

Abstract

The northern part of the Japan Sea is a seismically active region where several large earthquakes were recorded in the past. Some of the earthquakes were accompanied by tsunamis. However, there is insufficient information on them. In this study, we aimed to examine a sea surface abnormality that occurred in 1415, as described in the Chosŏn Wangjo Sillok (“The Chronology of the Li Dynasty of Korea”). This sea surface abnormality was widely observed along the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, and seawater run-up and withdrawal occurred several times. Volcanic eruptions or earthquakes can be considered the cause of this sea surface abnormality, with the possibility of heavy rain or wind.