![]() It was not until the Han dynasty that classical maps began to emerge.Įarliest reference to maps in historical texts The primitive maps were simple maps, still steeped in myth and legend. In general, the development of early Chinese cartography experienced three phrases: primitive map, classical map, and survey map. Yu the Great used the map to help him in taming the flood that threatened to destroy rural agriculture. During the mythical Xia dynasty, a river deity gave Yu the Great a stone with a flood map etched on its surface. There is an ancient Chinese legend called He Bo Xian Tu ( 河伯獻圖), which roughly means "the River Deity presenting a map". One of the most famous explorers in Chinese history was the 15th century admiral Zheng He, known for the Chinese exploration of the Pacific and his treasure voyages. The compass was then used from the 11th century during the Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty, Ming dynasty, and Qing dynasty in the study of geography. It expands its scope beyond the Chinese homeland with the growth of the Chinese Empire under the Han dynasty and enters a golden age with the Han dynasty invention of the compass as one of the Four Great Inventions. The study of geography in China begins in the Warring States period (5th century BC). During the 15th century, the Ming dynasty admiral Zheng He went on a series of voyages to the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and beyond and maps for areas outside of China were produced, although world maps covering territories known to the Chinese outside of China existed as early as the Tang dynasty. By the 11th century during the Song dynasty highly-accurate maps drawn on grids were produced. Its scope extended beyond China's borders with the expansion of the Chinese Empire under the Han dynasty. On the reverse side of the engraving is another map, Huayi tu.Ĭhinese cartography began in the 5th century BC during the Warring States period when cartographers started to make maps of the Earth's surface. China's coastline and river systems are clearly defined and precisely pinpointed on the map. This 3 ft (0.91 m) squared map features a graduated scale of 100 li for each rectangular grid. The Yu Ji Tu, or Map of the Tracks of Yu Gong, carved into stone in 1137, located in the Stele Forest of Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |