The Kangnido map (混一疆理歷代國都之圖 "Yoktae chewang honil kangnido ") was made in Korea from Chinese source material in 1402, by Ch'üan Chin and Li Hui. The map describes the totality of the Old World, from Europe and Africa in the west, to Korea and Japan in the east, with an oversize China in the middle, at a time largely preceding the first European voyages of exploration, and even the famous travels by the Chinese Admiral Zheng He, suggesting in depth geographical knowledge and explorations from a very early date.
Origins
China began to explore the territories to the west from the embassy of Zhang Qian in 126 BCE. Various countries were thus identified, such as K'ang-chü (Sogdiana), Ta-Yuan (in Ferghana), An-shih (Parthia) and Daqin (the Roman empire). China also engaged in sea travel, especially following the expansion of Islam on the continent in the 8th century.
According to the explanatory notes on the map, it was made by combining of two earlier Chinese maps, an early 14th century map by Li Tse-min and another map from the late 14th century by Ch'ing Chün, both maps now being lost. These two maps circulated to Korea through the agency of the Korean ambassador Chin Shih-Heng (1341-1407), and were combined in 1402 by Li Hui and Ch'üan Chin.
Content
The map depicts in great details the Empire of China, as well as Korea and Japan, although relative sizes and positions are not exactly preserved.
In the West, the Arabian peninsula, Africa and Europe are quite clearly delineated. In particular, the Mediterranean is clearly depicted, as well as the Iberian and Italian peninsulas and the Adriatic. The knowledge of the actual contour of Africa indicates early explorations of the area, clearly predating the European explorations of Vasco da Gama.
Most of the Chinese transcriptions of place-names in southwest Asia, Africa, and Europe come from Persianized Arabic originals. There are over 100 names for the European countries alone, including "Alumangia" for the Latin word Alemania (Germany).
See also
External links
References
- "Science and Civilization in China", vol. 3, J. Needham