Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 12:01, 15 March 2008

Kangnido map (1402)
Korean Name
Revised Romanization	Honilgangniyeokdaegukdojido
McCune-Reischauer (North Korean)	Honilgangniryŏktaeguktojido
Hangul	혼일강리역대국도지도
Chosŏn'gŭl (North Korean Hangul)	혼일강리력대국도지도
Hanja	混一疆理歷代國都之圖
Short Name	Gangnido (Kangnido; 강리도; 疆理圖)

The Kangnido is a world map created in Korea in 1402. Its full name, Honil gangni yeokdae gukdo ji do, means "Integrated Map of Historical Capitals".

This is the best known example of the maps of the Mongol Empire, which enabled the integration of advanced Islamic science and traditional Chinese knowledge. It depicts the general form of the Old World, from Africa and Europe in the west to Japan in the east. This map is sometimes considered as "superior to anything produced in Europe prior to the end of the fifteenth century".

Manuscripts

Only two copies of the map are known, and both have been preserved in Japan.

The map currently in Ryūkoku University (hereafter, Ryūkoku map) has gathered scholarly attention since the early 20th century. It is 158 cm by 163 cm, painted on silk. It is presumed that the Ryūkoku map was copied in Korea but it is not clear when the copy was brought to Japan. One claims that it was purchased by Ōtani Kōzui and others assume that it was obtained during the invasion of Korea (1592-1598) and given to the West Honganji temple by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Another map (Honkōji map) was discovered in the Honkōji temple of Shimabara, Nagasaki in 1988. It is 220 cm by 280 cm, much larger than the Ryūkoku map. It looks like the Honkōji map was copied in Japan during the Edo period.

There are two copies of maps in Japan that are related to the map. One (Honmyōji map) housed in the Honmyōji temple of Kumamoto is known as the "Map of the Great Ming" (大明國地圖) and the other (Tenri map) in Tenri University is called by a similar name (大明國圖). They are considered to be later adaptations of the original. The most important change is that place names of China are updated to those of the Ming Dynasty while the original showed administrative divisions of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty.

Based on a legend of the temple, it has been believed naively that the Honmyōji map was given to Katō Kiyomasa by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in preparation for the Korean campaigns. However, the Seonjong Sillok of Korea reports that in 1593 the son of a Korean official who had surrendered to Katō copied and offered map(s) of China and Korea to him. This may refer to the extant Honmyōji map.

Sources

The Ryūkoku and Honkōji maps contain Gwon Geun (權近)'s colophon at the bottom. It is also recorded in his anthology named Yangchon seonsaeng munjip (陽村先生文集). According to Gwon, the map was based on the following four maps:

• the world map named Shengjiao Guangbei Tu (聲教廣被圖) by Li Zemin (李澤民)
• the historical map of China named Hunyi Jiangli Tu (混一疆理圖) by Qingjun (清浚)
• an unnamed map of Korea
• an unnamed map of Japan

In the fourth year of the Jianwen era (1402), Korean officials named Kim Sa-hyeong (金士衡) and Yi Mu (李茂), and later Yi Hoe (李薈), analyzed the two Chinese maps and combined these two maps into a single map. Since Li Zemin's map had problems on the region east to the Liao River (southern Manchuria) and Korea, they added the enlarged Korea, and also appended a map of Japan.

Maps of the Mongol Empire

This map originates from a historical setting of the Mongol Empire, which connected the western Islamic world with the Chinese sphere. The empire demonstrated the conquest of the world by publishing treatise on geography and world maps. Their attempt enabled the integration of advanced Islamic science and traditional Chinese knowledge. Note that the Chinese source maps were of "consumer use." In other words, they were not created by the empire for itself. It is presumed that the Mongol government gathered much more detailed information that was not disclosed to the public.

In 1285, the Mongol Yuan Dynasty started to compile a geography monograph named Dayuan Dayitong Zhi (大元大一統志) (extant manuscripts lack maps). In 1286 Jamāl al-Dīn made Khubilai Khan a proposal for merging several maps of the empire into a single world map, and it resulted in the Tianxia Dili Zongtu (天下地理總圖). It was supposedly a world map but is lost today. He also ordered to obtain a book called Rāh-nāmah (road book) from Muslim sailors. An extant map attached to the Jingshi Dadian (經世大典; 1329-1333) proves Mongols' accurate knowledge on Inner Asia that was obtained from Muslims. Influence by these official projects, Taoist monk Zhu Siben (朱思本) complied a geography monograph of China named Jiuyu Zhi (九域志) in 1297. Based on this earlier work, he created a now lost map of China named Yuditu (與地圖) in 1311-1320.

These materials were, however, too large for circulation. What directly impacted Chinese intellectuals were the secondary compilations. In the first half of the 14th century, encyclopedias such as the Hanmo Quanshu (翰墨全書) and the Zhishun edition of the Shilin Guangji (事林廣記) updated their geographic knowledge from the preceding Jurchen Jin and Southern Song Dynasties to the contemporary Mongol Yuan Dynasty.

Newly discovered materials reveal personal network among intellectuals of southern China, centered in Qingyuan (Ningbo). Qingjun, who was from neighboring Taizhou, created the Hunyi Jiangli Tu when he stayed in Qingyuan. Wu Sidao, who left an important bibliographic clue, was also from Qingyuan. In addition, Ningbo was one of the most important seaports and the sea routes were extended to Fuzhou and Guangzhou, and Southeast Asia, Japan and Goryeo. They must have acquired marine information from Muslim sailors.

The name of the Kangnido, Hunyi Jiangli Lidai Guodu Zhi Tu (Integrated Map of Historical Capitals) in Chinese, is just a combination of phrases common in traditional Chinese maps. In addition to the obvious correspondence with "Hunyi Jiangli Tu" (Integrated Maps of Territories), there were many predecing Chinese maps with similar titles, including the "Yu Gong Jiuzhou Lidai Diwang Guodu Dili Tu" (禹貢九州歷代帝王國都地理圖; Map of Capitals of Historical Emperors and Kings in the Nine Provinces of the Yu Gong).

Shengjiao Guangbei Tu

The Shengjiao Guangbei Tu (map of the resounding teaching (of the khan) prevailing all over the world) by Li Zemin is lost. Its original state can be deduced by examining its derivative works: the Guangyutu (廣與圖)(1555) by Luo Hongxian (羅洪先) contains a pair of maps named Dongnan Haiyi Tu (東南海夷圖) and Xinan Haiyi Tu (西南海夷圖) that are considered to be the southern half of the Shengjiao Guangbei Tu although Luo's copy dropped most place names except for coastal areas and islands. The Daming Hunyi Tu (大明混一圖/Dai Ming gurun-i uherilehe nirugan), a Manchu translation of a Ming period map, is also considered to have been based ultimately on Li Zemin's map.

The Shengjiao Guangbei Tu was a world map. It contained not only China but also Africa and Europe. Luo's copy and the Daming Hunyi Tu suggest that the original depicted India more accurately than the Korean adaptation although it is also possible that the Daming Hunyi Tu reflects 17th century knowledge.

Little is known about the author Li Zemin. Based on place names on the map, it has been presumed that it was created around 1319 and revised sometime between 1329 and 1338. However, Wu Sidao's statement (described later) suggests that his map was newer than Qingjun's (1360?).

Guanglun Jiangli Tu

The Hunyi Jiangli Tu by Zen monk Qingjun (1328-1392) is lost. However, the Shuidong Riji (水東日記) by the Ming period book collector Ye Sheng (葉盛) (1420-1474) includes a modified edition of the map by the name of Guanglun Jiangli Tu (廣輪疆理圖). Ye Sheng also recorded Yan Jie (嚴節)'s colophon to the map (1452). According to Yan Jie, the Guanglun Jiangli Tu was created in 1360. The extant map was modified, probably by Yan Jie, to catch up with contemporary Ming place names. The original map covered place names of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty.

The Guanglun Jiangli Tu was one of historical maps that were popular among Chinese intellectuals. It showed historical capitals of Chinese dynasties in addition to contemporary place names. It followed Chinese tradition in that it was a map of China, not the world. But contrary to Song period maps which reflected limited Chinese knowledge on geography, it incorporated information on Mongolia and Southeast Asia. It also provided information of sea routes (There remain traces on the Honmyōji map).

Wu Sidao's work

Korean officers' key contribution might be to combine the two Chinese maps, but actually it had at least one precedent in the past, as described in Wu Sidao (烏斯道)'s Chuncaozhai Ji (春草齋集). Contemporary to Qingjun, Wu Sidao merged the Guanglun Tu (廣輪圖) and Li Rulin (李汝霖)'s Shengjiao Beihua Tu (聲教被化圖) although his map is not known today. The Guanglun Tu must refer to Qingjun's Guanglun Jiangli Tu. It is likely that Rulin was Li Zemin's courtesy name and that Shengjiao Beihua Tu was an alias for his Shengjiao Guangbei Tu.

Scholars have presumed that the two Chinese source maps were obtained during Kim Sa-hyeong's diplomatic trip to China in 1399 although there is no literary evidence for his acquisition. It is rather possible that these maps came to Korea in different times since Gwon Geun's colophon implies that Korean officials picked out the two maps for their excellency from among various sources, maybe including Wu's work.

Map of Korea

Gwon Geun claimed that Li Zemin's map had many gaps and omissions concerning Korea. It is not clear how Korea was depicted on Li's map since Korea is out of the range of the extant copy (southern half of the original). The modified version of Qingjun's map provides a relatively proper shape of Korea though place names presented there are those of the preceding Goryeo Dynasty.

Although Gwon Geun did not clarify which map was utilized for Korea, it is usually identified as Yi Hoe's Paldodo (八道圖). But the original condition of the Korean portion is unclear because even the oldest Ryūkoku map reflects the administrative situation as late as around 1470.

Note that, according to Gwon Geun, Korea was intentionally oversized (for practical reasons).

Map of Japan

The two original Chinese maps portray Japan as a set of three islands that lie from east to west. They would be influenced by the legend of Xu Fu. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Xu Fu claimed that there were three divine mountains in the sea and went to one of the mountain-islands, which were later believed to be Japan.

Japan is shown in better shape on the Ryūkoku map than on traditional Chinese maps, but is rotated by 90 degrees. This drew attention from scholars and some even associated with the controversy over the location of Yamataikoku. But the other three copies suggest that it is merely exceptional.

Since information on Japan differs considerably among the four copies, the original condition is unreconstructible. The Honkōji map is close to maps in the Haedong Jegukgi (1471), suggesting that information was regularly updated.

The original source map which Gwon Geun did not cite either is usually identified as the one obtained in Japan in 1401 by Bak Donji (朴敦之), based on an article of the Sejong Sillok (the 10th month of 1438). However, this article is obviously wrong because Bak stayed in Japan from 1397 to 1399 as an envoy to the Ōuchi family but could never be there in 1401.

Contents

As a world map, this map was based on Li Zemin's Shengjiao Guangbei Tu. It depicts the general form of the Old World, from Africa and Europe in the west to Japan in the east although the western portion is much smaller than its actual size. It contains the cartographic knowledge of Afro-Eurasia that cannot be found in the east in the pre-Mongol period. Place names presented on the map suggest that the western portion of the map reflects roughly the situation of the early 14th century. In the East, geographic information about the west was not updated in the post-Mongol period unless Europeans such as Matteo Ricci brought Western knowledge.

Place names based on traditional Chinese knowledge and Islamic knowledge coexist separately. Their boundary line can be drawn from Besh Baliq to Delhi. Names based on the former were placed to the north and east of Besh Baliq even if they are actually located to the west. For example, the Talas River, which was important for the Tang Dynasty was placed to the northeast of Besh Baliq although its actual direction is northwest. Similary, India and Tibet are based on the traditional Chinese knowledge, mainly gained by Buddhist pilgrimage up to the Tang Dynasty. To the west of the "old" India, contemporary place names of India such as Delhi, Badaun and Duwayjir∼Duwayqir (Persianized form of Devagiri) are shown. This suggests that information was acquired via Ilkhanate.

Western Turkestan, Persia, Arabia, Egypt and Anatolia are quite clearly delineated. These areas are depicted in great detail while place names are sparsely distributed in northwestern Eurasia. They correspond to the territories of Ilkhanate and the rival Golden Horde respectively, reinforcing Ilkhanate as the main source of information.

There are about 35 African place names. The knowledge of the contour of Africa predates 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 "Misr" for Cairo (al-Qāhira) and Mogadishu (Maqdashaw) are shown among others. The Mediterranean forms a clear shape but is not blackened unlike other sea areas. The Maghreb and the Iberian peninsula are depicted in detail while Genoa and Venice are omitted. There are over 100 names for the European countries alone, including "Alumangia" for the Latin word Alemania (Germany).

Comparison

The Kangnido displays many similarities with the Fra Mauro map, made in 1457 by the Venetian monk Fra Mauro, both in the correctness of their assertions (the connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean), and in their mistakes (a huge river from the center of Africa going into the Red Sea, the flattened western coast of Africa, or the shoreline of South Asia). They share the same understanding of the Old World in its general structure, although the relative proportions of the countries and continents are inverted, with Europe and Africa enlarged on the Fra Mauro map, and China and especially Korea very largely represented in the Kangnido.

Both maps were made before the European voyages of exploration and the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope in 1488 by the Europeans. It has been suggested that the geographical knowledge contained in the Kangnido map was created by Muslim, Indian or Chinese sailors (expedition of the Chinese Admiral Zheng He), and then transmitted to the West in some way or another, possibly through Indian or Muslim merchants, or through 15th century travelers to the East such as the Venetian Niccolò da Conti.

Chinese exploration

Some have used this map as evidence of early global exploration by China. 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). The Buddhist monk Faxian was the first Chinese to sail into the Indian Ocean in the beginning of the 5th century AD, visiting India and Sri Lanka by ship. Afterwards, China engaged heavily in sea travel, especially following the expansion of Islam on the continent in the 8th century. The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) writer Duan Chengshi, along with other writers, wrote detailed descriptions of Africa, its coastal commerce, and slave trade. Wang Dayuan was the first Chinese ship captain to sail into the Mediterranean Sea (by Mamluk Egypt) and as far as Morocco in North Africa during the 14th century.

See also

• 1421 theory
• T and O map

Notes

1. (Miya:2006)
2. Peter Jackson, "The Mongols and the West", p.330
3. (Miya:2006)
4. (Miya:2006)
5. (Sugiyama:2007)
6. Jackson, p.330

References

• Miya Noriko 宮紀子, "Kon'itsu Kyōri Rekidai Kokuto no Zu" he no michi 「混一疆理歴代国都之図」への道, Mongoru jidai no shuppan bunka モンゴル時代の出版文化, pp. 487-651, 2006.
• Sugiyama Masaaki 杉山正明 Tōzai no sekaizu ga kataru jinrui saisho no daichihei 東西の世界図が語る人類最初の大地平, Daichi no shōzō 大地の肖像, pp. 54-83, 2007.
• Joseph Needham, Science and Civilisation in China, vol. 3.
• "Circa 1492. Art in the age of exploration", Washington National Gallery of Art, Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-05167-0
• Peter Jackson, "The Mongols and the West", Pearson Education Limited, 2005, ISBN 0582368960

External links

• The Kangnido map
• Analysis of the Kangnido map
• The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu, or Amalgamated Map of the Great Ming Empire showing southern Africa and dating to 1389. Copy presented to S. African government
• Highest Available Resolution (1739 x 1615 - 2624k)

• Old maps of the world
• History of China
• Joseon Dynasty
• Mongol Empire
• 1402 works