General Maps
乾隆天下輿地圖
World Map of Early Qing Qianlong Period| Hanyu Pinyin | Qianlong tian xia yu di tu |
|---|---|
| Date | After the eighth year of Qing Qianlong’s reign, 1743- |
| Measurement | |
| Techniques | Woodcut |
| Material | paper |
| Quantity | |
| Categories | |
| Country of Repository | |
| Identifier | British Library |
| Notes | Or. 15406.a.28 |
| Share |
No title appears on the map; the title applied here is based on content. The legend states that prefectural capitals are represented by big square circles; counties by small circles; municipalities by rectangles; direct-controlled municipality by double squares; townships by diamonds; cities by double diamonds. Dark black lines indicate provincial borders; black lines indicate prefectural borders. Well known mountains, rivers, and islands are identified, but not the small ones. The map covers 15 provinces established before the eighth year of Qianlong’s reign, 1743. Orientation is noted on the top and bottom of the map, and south is at the bottom. This is one of the most extensive maps at the time because it also includes exotic foreign lands descriptions.
The map includes information about place names, historical changes, people, events, legends, customs, properties, taxes, and garrisons, including dates and commentary: Fengshun County was established in Chaozhou Prefecture in the fourth year of Qianlong’s reign, 1739, administrative places were established to guard Qianshan fort in Xiangshang County, Guangzhou Prefecture in the eighth year of Qianlong’s reign, 1743. There are a few obvious mistakes such as Zhanghua County wasn’t included in Taiwan.
This map can be contrasted with the following maps in the National Palace Museum’s collection: Shi san pai tong ban di tu (map no. 021049-021156); Huang chao yi tong yu di quan tu (purchase no. 002800-002807); Zhongguo di tu (map no. 021504); Da Qing wan nian yi tong tian xia quan tu (purchase no. 002503-002510); Da di quan qiu yi lan tu (map no. 005707-005714); Kun yu quan tu (map no. 020786-020793); and the Library of Congress collection: Da Qing wan nian yi tong tian xia quan tu (gm 71005018); Huang chao yi tong yu di quan tu (gm 71002481); Yu di quan tu (gm 71002353); Jing ban tian wen quan tu (gm 71005137).
The map includes information about place names, historical changes, people, events, legends, customs, properties, taxes, and garrisons, including dates and commentary: Fengshun County was established in Chaozhou Prefecture in the fourth year of Qianlong’s reign, 1739, administrative places were established to guard Qianshan fort in Xiangshang County, Guangzhou Prefecture in the eighth year of Qianlong’s reign, 1743. There are a few obvious mistakes such as Zhanghua County wasn’t included in Taiwan.
This map can be contrasted with the following maps in the National Palace Museum’s collection: Shi san pai tong ban di tu (map no. 021049-021156); Huang chao yi tong yu di quan tu (purchase no. 002800-002807); Zhongguo di tu (map no. 021504); Da Qing wan nian yi tong tian xia quan tu (purchase no. 002503-002510); Da di quan qiu yi lan tu (map no. 005707-005714); Kun yu quan tu (map no. 020786-020793); and the Library of Congress collection: Da Qing wan nian yi tong tian xia quan tu (gm 71005018); Huang chao yi tong yu di quan tu (gm 71002481); Yu di quan tu (gm 71002353); Jing ban tian wen quan tu (gm 71005137).
