Gangnido
The Kangnido map (混一疆理歷代國都之圖 "혼일강리역대국도지도(Hon-il gang-li yeok-dae-guk-do ji-do)") was made in Korea from Chinese source material in 1402, by Gim sa-hyuang(김사형:金士衡), I mu(이무:李茂) and I hoi(이회). 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 (파사:pa-sa:Parthia) and Daqin (대진:Daejin: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 Gim sa-hyuang (1341-1407), and were combined in 1402 by I hoi and I mu.
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. China is oversized, and Southeast Asia (with its protruding peninsula and profusion of islands) as well as India are rounded up into a global landmass.
In the West, the Arabian peninsula, Africa and Europe are quite clearly delineated, although the continents are described smaller than their actual size. In particular, the Mediterranean is clearly depicted, as well as the Iberian and Italian peninsulas and the Adriatic. There are over 100 names for the European countries alone, including "Alumangia" for the Latin word Alemania (Germany).
The knowledge of the actual contour of Africa indicates early explorations of the area, clearly predating the European explorations of Vasco da Gama. In particular, the southern tip of Africa is quite clearly depicted, as well as a river which may correspond to the Orange River in Southern Africa. To the north of the African continent, beyond the unexplored "black" central mass, a pagoda is represented for the lighthouse of Alexandria, and the Arab word "Msir" for Egypt is transliterated in Chinese Mandarin.
Most of the Chinese transcriptions of place-names in southwest Asia, Africa, and Europe come from Persianized Arabic originals, indicating that the Kangnido may have relied for a large part on knowledge transmitted from the Middle-East.
See also
External links
References
- "Science and Civilization in China", vol. 3, J. Needham