Gonyeodo is a nine-volume atlas consisting of colored transcribed maps of the world. It also includes an astronomical map showing the influence of Western astronomy, world maps, and a map of the provinces of China. It is thought that these maps are copies of other maps imported from China, judging from their overall composition and content. They are exquisitely made, and rich in content.
The maps in this atlas look similar to those of Gujin Tushu Jicheng (Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China), which includes the Huang Yu Quanlan Tu (Map of a Comprehensive View of Imperial Territory) made during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (r. 1662-1722) of the Qing Dynasty of China, an astronomical map showing the influence of Western astronomy, and a Western-style world map. The traditional astronomical maps of Joseon and China usually depicted the constellations of the Arctic and Antarctic in a circle, but this one marks the northern and southern hemispheres with the equator. The margin of the map contains an illustration of stars in the two hemispheres.