You can read a 40 page detailed description of the map here.
But if you don’t have time to read the whole thing here’s a brief summary:
The map represents one of the most significant cartographic works in East Asian history.
It was part of a cultural project by the newly established Joseon dynasty to assert Korea’s place in the world and to consolidate geographical knowledge.
Origins and Sources
The Kangnido is a synthesis of two earlier Chinese maps:
- Shengjiao Guangbei Tu (“Map for the Diffusion of Instruction”) by Li Zemin (Li Tse-min), circa 1330.
- Hunyi Jiangli Tu (“Map of Integrated Regions and Terrains”) by Qing Jun (Ch’ing Ch’un), circa 1370.
These maps were obtained by the Korean ambassador Kim Sa-hyong during a visit to China in 1399.
Recognizing gaps in the Chinese maps—particularly regarding Korea and regions east of the Liao River—Li Hui supplemented them with detailed Korean geographical information and added a map of Japan, resulting in the comprehensive Kangnido map.
Content and Features
- Geographical Scope: The map depicts the known world from Europe and Africa in the west to Japan in the east. It integrates geographical knowledge from Chinese, Korean, and Islamic sources.
- Depiction of Regions:
- China and Korea: Placed prominently at the center, reflecting Korea’s view of itself as a major East Asian state.
- Africa: Notably accurate for its time, showing a triangular-shaped continent extending southward, the Nile River originating from the “Mountains of the Moon” (Jabal al-Qamar), and around 35 African place names.
- Europe: Includes about 100 European place names, though with significant distortions in shape and orientation.
- Japan: Shown with inaccuracies, such as being oriented with the west at the top and positioned far to the south, likely due to space constraints or traditional placement in Chinese maps.
- Cartographic Significance:
- One of the earliest East Asian maps to incorporate detailed representations of Africa and Europe.
- Reflects the influence of Islamic cartography, especially in the depiction of Africa and the inclusion of Arabic place names.
- Demonstrates an advanced understanding of global geography prior to the European “Age of Discovery” and before the introduction of European maps to East Asia by Jesuit missionaries like Matteo Ricci in the late 16th century.
Cultural and Historical Significance
- Integration of Knowledge: The Kangnido exemplifies the synthesis of geographical information from multiple cultures—Chinese, Korean, and Islamic—highlighting the extensive trade and diplomatic networks of the time.
- Korean Worldview: The map reflects Korea’s ambition to present itself as an important state within a larger world context, emphasizing its own territory while acknowledging distant lands.
- Influence on Cartography:
- The Kangnido influenced subsequent mapmaking in Korea and Japan.
- It represents the culmination of traditional East Asian cartography before the significant influence of European maps.
- Preservation and Legacy:
- Although the original map is not preserved in Korea, four known copies exist in Japan.
- The most notable copy is housed at Ryūkoku University in Kyoto, acknowledged to be the earliest and in the best condition.
- The map likely arrived in Japan during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s invasions of Korea in the late 16th century.
Conclusion
The Kangnido map is a monumental work that showcases the geographical knowledge and cartographic skills of early 15th-century Korea. By combining and expanding upon earlier Chinese and Islamic maps, Korean scholars created a world map that was unparalleled in East Asia at the time.
The Kangnido not only served practical administrative purposes but also symbolized Korea’s intellectual engagement with the wider world, its national pride, and its place within the global context of the 15th century.
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