Shanhai Yudi Quantu

The Shanhai Yudi Quantu ((zh-tsp|t=山海輿地全圖|s=山海舆地全图|p=shānhǎiyúdìquántú, "Complete Terrestrial Map") is a Chinese map which was published in 1607/1609 in the geographical treatise Sancai Tuhui (zh-tp|t=三才圖會|p=sāncáitúhùi).

Influences

The Shanhai Yudi Quantu is known to have be highly influenced by the Jesuit missions in China, starting with the work of Matteo Ricci. [Ptak, p.1] Matteo Ricci himself had several of his own maps entitled "Shanhai Yudi Quantu": one engraved by Wu Zhongming (zh-tp|t=吳中明|p=wú zhōngmíng) and dated 1600, and one dated 1604, engraved by Guo Zizhang (zh-tp|t=郭子章|p=gūo zĭzhāng). [Ptak, p.3]

Description

The locations in the map have been identified and translated by Roderich Ptak in his work "The Sino-European Map (“Shanhai yudi quantu”) in the Encyclopedia Sancai tuhui":

Asia

The Asian continent is marked phonetically "Yaxiya" (zh-tp|t=亞細亞|p=yàxìyà). This is the area of the map where most information can be found, and has been subdivided here by regions:

East Asia

* The "Great Ming Empire" (zh-tp|t=大明國|p=dàmínggúo)
* Japan (zh-tp|t=日本|p=rìběn)
* Korea (zh-tp|t=高麗|p=gāolì)
* Jurchen area, northeast of Korea (zh-tp|t=女直|p=nǚzhí)
* "Five Cities", near Sungari (zh-tp|t=五城|p=wǔchéng)
* Liaodong (zh-tp|t=遼東|p=liáodōng)
* Daning, a military region (zh-tp|t=大寧|p=dàníng)
* Tartary, north of Liaodong (zh-tp|t=韃靼|p=dádá)
* "Land of Dogs", eastern Siberia (zh-tp|t=狗國|p=gǒugúo)
* "Coral Tree Islands" (zh-tp|t=珊瑚樹島|p=shānhúshùdǎo)

West Asia

* "Desert" (zh-tp|t=沙漠|p=shāmò)
* Xifan 西番 – "Western Barbarians" (Tibetans of the Kham region)
* Huihui 回回 – Muslims
* Xiyu 西域 – “Western Regions”
* Xingsu hai 星宿海 – Qinghai Lake (alleged source of the Yellow River)
* Kunlun 崑崙 – Kunlun mountains

outh Asia

* Annam 安南 – Annam (Vietnam)
* Chancheng 占城 – Champa
* Liuqiu 琉球 – Ryukyu islands
* Hainan 海南 – Hainan
* Sanfoqi 三佛齊 – Srivijaya
* Mu Zhaowa 木爪哇 – Java Major
* Xiao Zhaowa 小爪哇 – Java Minor
* Yingdiya 應帝亞 – India
* Xi Tianzhu 西天竺 – Western India

Europe

Europe is marked phonetically "Ouluoba" (歐羅巴). Only France is named as a country (zh-tp|t=佛敢察|p=fógǎnchá, or zh-tp|t=佛郞察|p=fólángchá), while others are marked as "more than thirty countries" (zh-tp|t=三十餘國|p=sānshíyúgúo). Greenland is identified as well (zh-tp|t=臥蘭的亞|p=wòlándíyà).

North America

North America is described phonetically as North Ya-Mo-Li-Ja (Bei Yamolijia 北亞墨利加). A few locations are mentioned but remain unidentified:
* Hanhe 寒河 – "Cold river" not identified
* Xiangfeng 香峯 – "Fragrant peak" not identified
* Yawaima 亞外馬 – not identified

South America

South America is described phonetically as South Ya-Mo-Li-Ja (Nan Yamolija 南亞墨利加).
* Shiren guo 食人國 – “Land of Cannibals”(Brazil)

Africa

Africa is described phonetically as Lybia (Liweiya 利未亞).
* tianxia ci shan zhigao 天下此山至高 – "the greatest mountain of the world”(the Atlas Mountains)

Antarctica

Antarctica is described phonetically as "Magellania" (Mowalanijia 墨瓦臘泥加), a name given to the continent at the time in honour of Magellan. The map mentions how little is known about this continent: "Few have reached these southern regions, [therefore] the things [related to them] are not explored yet" (ci nanfang di ren zhi zhe shao, wei shen qi wu 此南方地人至者少, 未審其物).
* Yingge di 鸚哥地 – "Parrot Country"
* Xin Runi 新入匿 – New Guinea
* Huodi 火地 – Tierra del Fuego
* Baifeng 白峯 – "White Peak" not identified
* Dajiang 大江 – "Great Bay" not identified

See also

* Wanguo Quantu
* Cheonhado

Notes

References

* "The Sino-European Map (“Shanhai yudi quantu”) in the Encyclopedia Sancai tuhui" Roderich Ptak [http://www.humanismolatino.online.pt/v1/pdf/C003-022.pdf]