Matteo Ricci's Kunyu Wanguo Quantu
Kunyu Wanguo Quantu de Matteo Ricci
- Date
- 1602 · confidence high
- Place
- Beijing, China
- Credited to
- Matteo Ricci and Li Zhizao
- People
- 👤 Matteo Ricci1552–1610
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What it is
A large world map printed on six sheets that showed the Chinese the Americas, Europe and the oceans and fixed in Chinese the names of many continents and countries. It placed China slightly left of centre, which made it more acceptable to its readers.
There were earlier versions from 1584 in Zhaoqing; the 1602 Beijing one, with Li Zhizao, is the most complete. Some place names are Ricci's and others pre-existing.
What it led to
- introduction of European geography to China and Japan
- origin of Chinese and Japanese names of continents and countries that endure