Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the Earth (Kunyu wanguo quantu)
Date
1602
Credits
- Matteo Ricci Cartographer
- Li Zhizao Engraver
Format
- Print 248
Type of Work
- Finished work 5482
Locations Made
- China 3
"Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the Earth" is a collaborative map representing the amalgamation of European and Chinese worldviews. Created by the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci and technical translator Li Zhizao, this map was made to honor the important officials of the Ming court while simultaneously asserting Ricci's own culture and religion. Although Ricci's map did not have lasting influence on Chinese attitude toward foreign countries, it did provide the Chinese a broader perspective of the earth rarely shown in maps purely of Chinese origin, and represents the contributions of the first European allowed into the Forbidden City.
Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the Earth, woodblock print on rice paper
