The maps of Mao Yuanyi (c. 1621)

The earliest Chinese map that could be described as navigational is contained in a treatise on military preparations compiled about 1621 by Mao Yuanyi. It has been traced to Man’s grandfather Mao Kun (1512–1601) and is believed to be based on the voyages of the celebrated Ambassador Zheng He, who from 1405 to 1433 led seven maritime expeditions as far west as the coast of eastern Africa. The map shows routes to Hormuz, the Red Sea, and eastern Africa. It contains sailing instruments and compass directions, but the chart itself is merely pictorial in nature and does not allow for measurements to be taken from it. It originally had the format of a strip map that could be rolled up, but was divided into 40 pages for the book publication.

Commentary. Philipp Nothaft (May-June 2019)