THE EXTRAORDINARY MAPS

OF THE BEIJING CENTER

1998

THE BEIJING CENTER FOR CHINESE STUDIES

THE RITA LIU

CARTOGRAPHICAL

COLLECTION

1998

maps

THE EXTRAORDINARY MAPS OF

THE BEIJING CENTER FOR CHINESE STUDIES

THE RITA LIU

CARTOGRAPHICAL

COLLECTION

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 02 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF

DONORS

This collection showcases artworks gathered and

preserved for the benefit of future generations,

courtesy of the generous donation from Mrs.

Rita Liu of Hong Kong. The Beijing Center

extends its profound gratitude to Mrs. Liu and

all our supporters. Visitors are cordially invited

to The Beijing Center to appreciate and engage

with the exhibited works.

PREFACE

The Rita Liu Map Collection exemplifies the

curiosity inherent in all individuals. Over

hundreds of years, people from diverse

backgrounds embarked on journeys to China,

seeking and transmitting knowledge about

places previously unseen by those who shared

their culture, beliefs, and ideas. Beyond their

travels, these individuals crafted maps, offering

novel—and often groundbreaking—perspectives

of the world. Instead of hoarding their newfound

knowledge, these adventurers chose to engage

and share the enchantment they experienced.

We hope that all readers of this booklet are

inspired to do the same.

03

INTRODUCTION OF TBC

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 04 The Beijing Center

05

INTRODUCTION OF TBC

INTRODUCTION OF

THE BEIJING CENTER

The Beijing Center (TBC) is a non-profit higher education institution and

research center with a profound commitment to fostering cross-cultural

understanding between Chinese and foreign communities. Established in 1998,

TBC functions as a bridge between China and the rest of the world, embodying

its mission to facilitate an East-West dialogue.

TBC’s dedication to bridging the gap between East and West is evident in its

comprehensive approach, utilizing education, research, and cultural exchange

as powerful means. Collaborating with over 50 institutions across 17 countries,

TBC follows the philosophy of Jesuit education and adopts the management

model of American higher education. The institution has welcomed over 10,000

students from around the world for semester, summer, or year-long study

programs. Furthermore, TBC has hosted nearly 400 academic, research, and

exploratory groups, engaging participants in short-term study visit programs

throughout the year and fostering connections across diverse cultures.

Additionally, TBC organizes academic conferences, thematic seminars, and

supports journalism and scholarship through diverse programming. It serves as

a dynamic space where ideas converge, promoting intellectual exchange that

transcends geographical borders.

TBC takes great pride in its founding by Fr. Ron Anton, a Jesuit priest with

over 40 years of international education experience. The institution remains

dedicated to continuing his legacy of connecting the world and houses the

mainland’s largest English-language library focused on China, boasting an

extensive collection of over 27,000 books. Since 2002, TBC has partnered with

the University of International Business and Economics, located on its campus,

to further enhance and champion cross-cultural communication. As an

institution committed to East-West dialogue, TBC remains at the forefront of

promoting international collaboration.

CATALOGUE

Chinae, Olim Sinarum Regionis

Martino Martini and Joan Blaeu Maps

La Chine Royaume

Jean Baptiste d'Anville and Jean Baptiste Du

Halde Maps

New and Accurate Map of China Drawn from

Surveys Made by Jesuit Missionaries, by Order

of the Emperor

A Sketch of journey from She-Hol in Tartary by

Land to Pekin and from Thence by Water to

Hang-Tchoo-Foo in China

Empire des Mongols, Conrad Malte

02

04

11

14

18

20

22

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 02 Luis Jorge de Barbuda, S.J (Ludovico Georgio) (1564?-1613)

Published by Abraham Ortelius, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

Original Print, 1584. Antwerp

03

CHINAE, OLIM SINARUM REGIONIS

CHINAE,

OLIM SINARUM REGIONIS 1584

01

This map boasts an impressive array of ‘firsts’: it marks the inaugural instance of a

printed European map specifically dedicated to China, the first depiction of China in

an organized atlas, the earliest portrayal of the Great Wall of China, the pioneering

representation of wind wagons, the first map to name the Philippine Archipelago,

and the earliest Western printed display of Chinese characters on the verso. Notable

and distinctive features include its Western orientation, ornate decorations, vibrant

colors, and references to historical and apocryphal points of interest for the

16th-century atlas reader.

Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598), a Dutch cartographer, is credited as the pioneer of

the modern atlas and the founder of the Netherlandish school of cartography. The

initial edition of the fieatrum Orbis Terrarum was printed in 1570, featuring 53

maps, a number that swiftly expanded with subsequent editions. In 1575, Ortelius

was appointed the Royal Cartographer to Philip II of Spain, and his works

remained the authoritative standard for over 75 years.

Luiz Jorge de Barbuda, SJ (1564? -1613?) remains a mysterious figure in Portuguese

cartography, with much about him shrouded in uncertainty. In 1582, he received a

commission from Philip II of Spain to create navigation charts and world maps.

The inclusion of his map in Abraham Ortelius’ fieatrum Orbis Terrarum was

accompanied by a detailed description of China and the Chinese language, drawn

from Bernardino de Escalante’s Discurso de la navegacion que los Portugueses hacen a

los Reinos y Provincias de Oriente (1577), the first book published in Spain about

China.

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 04 MARTINO MARTINI AND

JOAN BLAEU MAPS

02

WHO THEY WERE

IMPERII SINARUM NOVA DESCRIPTIO

CHEKIANG PROVINCIA, IMPERII SINARUM

YUNNAN PROVINCIA, IMPERII SINARUM

05

MARTINO MARTINI AND JOAN BLAEU MAPS

WHO THEY WERE

MARTINO MARTINI, SJ

Martino Martini, SJ (1614-1661), a Jesuit missionary hailing from Trento (now Italy),

played a crucial role in advancing the Jesuit mission in Hangzhou, China. Serving

as the Jesuit Superior in Hangzhou, he gained substantial access to surveys and

valuable information, which he later brought back to Europe.

JOAN BLAEU

Joan Blaeu (1596-1673), the son of the cartographer Willem Janszoon Blaeu, assumed

control of the family business following his father’s passing. He held the position of

hydrographer for the Dutch East India Trading Company and gained renown for

the meticulous detail, exceptional quality, and aesthetic beauty of his maps.

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 06 IMPERII SINARUM NOVA DESCRIPTIO 1655 Martino Martini, SJ (1614-1661)

Published by Joan Blaeu, Novus Atlas Sinensis The Imperii Sinarum Nova Descriptio stands out as the most precise and

authoritative map of China in 17th-century Europe, compiled by Joan Blaeu and

Martino Martini, SJ. This map holds the distinction of being the inaugural Western

atlas specifically dedicated to China, Korea, and Japan. Building upon the

knowledge accumulated after the publication of Luis Jorge de Barbuda, SJ, and

Abraham Ortelius’ fieatrum Orbis Terrarum in 1584, it provides a more accurate

depiction of distant landmasses, such as recognizing the peninsular status of Korea

and delineating the islands of Japan. Notably, it also marks the first Western map to

illustrate the curvature of China’s coast, challenging previous cartography that

depicted it as a relatively straight line.

07

MARTINO MARTINI AND JOAN BLAEU MAPS

CHEKIANG PROVINCIA, IMPERII SINARUM 1655

Martino Martini, SJ (1614-1661)

Published by Joan Blaeu, Novus Atlas Sinensis

Original Print, 1655. Amsterdam.

The Nova Descriptio provides a comprehensive overview of China and its adjacent

regions. Other maps within the Imperii Sinarum series in the Novus Atlas Sinensis

focus on specific provinces, such as Chekiang (Zhejiang) and Iunnan (Yunnan). The

Chekiang Provincia map depicts various day-to-day activities, including harvesting

and games, while mines are marked with small flags indicating their contents.

Notably, the cartouche features an illustration of a man engaging in the process of ‘silk

reeling,’ believed to be the earliest European depiction of silk production in China.

THE EXTRAORDINARY MAPS OF

THE BEIJING CENTER FOR CHINESE STUDIES

BOOKLET PAGE 4

09

MARTINO MARTINI AND JOAN BLAEU MAPS

YUNNAN PROVINCIA,

IMPERII SINARUM 1655

Martino Martini, SJ (1614-1661)

Published by Joan Blaeu, Novus Atlas Sinensis

Original Print, 1655. Amsterdam.

Martino Martini, SJ, and Joan Blaeu’s map of Yunnan Province is the

first printed European map of the Yunnan region, encompassing the

territory between Tibet and Guangxi Province, Sichuan Province and

Laos, Burma, and Vietnam. The map is adorned with depictions of

indigenous flora and fauna, including tropical birds and elephants,

along with the inclusion of four children positioned near the cartouche.

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 10 Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville (1600-1667)

Copper engraving by Joannes Somer Prithenus.

Published in Cartes Generles

Original Print, 1658. Paris

This map, published in 1658, is believed to be derived from a Chinese map that

Matteo Ricci, SJ, copied in 1590 and subsequently brought to Rome by Michele

Ruggieri, SJ. The original Chinese map is Luo Hongxian’s four-volume Ming

Atlas, Guang Yu Tu (1579). Notably, the Korean peninsula is depicted as a

peninsula, albeit with a distinctive curvature, which was unconventional for the

period. Additionally, the northern tip of the Philippines is included. In the lower

right-hand corner, Sanson’s explanation is adorned with Pheme, the

personification deity of fame and renown. It also makes references to the prior

work of Michael Boym, SJ, and Martino Martini, SJ.

Nicholas Sanson (1600-1667) was a French cartographer, often considered to be

the father of French cartography for his influence and output. These maps were

researched and often accompanied by explanatory notes on the recto. Sanson’s

contributions marked a pivotal shift of cartographic excellence from the

Netherlands to France. He held the esteemed position of Official Royal

Cartographer and served as a tutor to Louis XIII.

11

LA CHINE ROYAUME

LA CHINE ROYAUME 1658

03

THE EXTRAORDINARY MAPS OF

THE BEIJING CENTER FOR CHINESE STUDIES

BOOKLET PAGE 4

13

LA CHINE ROYAUME

PICTURE OF

THE NOTE IN THE CORNER

The note in the corner reads “In 1590 while in Rome Matheo

Neroni drew a magnificent, most unusual, and very large map

according to Fr. Michele Ruggieri’s explanations of drawings found

in four books printed in China. It is currently kept in the study of

His Royal Highness Monseigneur the Duke of Orleans. My map is

only an abridged version of Neroni’s work. Because of a lack of

space, I was able to include only cities of the first and second ranks.

While engraving it, I looked at Fr. Martino Martini La Chine and

glanced at Fr. Boym’s still unfinished work, which he claims will be

the best of all maps. Martini’s opus contains sixteen maps, one for

each province, but they sometimes are less detailed than the one

drawn by Neroni. When I attempted to reconcile all these maps I

was confronted with great differences in names and numbers of

prefectures (fu) and townships (si), not to mention the smaller

places. All this leads me to believe that these maps are based on

indigenous drawings by different Chinese authors and that it will

be difficult to say who among them is the best...”

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 14 JEAN BAPTISTE D'ANVILLE AND

JEAN BAPTISTE DU HALDE MAPS

04

WHO THEY WERE

LA CHINE, LA TARTARIE CHINOISE ET LE THIBET

PROVINCE DE KIANG-SI

15

JEAN BAPTISTE D'ANVILLE AND JEAN

BAPTISTE DU HALDE MAPS

WHO THEY WERE

JEAN BAPTISTE BOURGUIGNON D’ANVILLE

Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville (1697 –1782) was a distinguished French

cartographer who assumed the role of King’s Geographer in 1718. Renowned for his

exceptional precision, he crafted more than 200 maps, earning a reputation as the

preeminent cartographer of his era. His innovative approach transformed the field

of cartography, as he deliberately left unknown areas blank and provided comments

on uncertain information, eschewing the common practice of embellishing spaces

with decorations or conjectural details.

BAPTISTE DU HALDE, SJ

Baptiste Du Halde, SJ (1764-1743), a French Jesuit priest, earned recognition as an

authority on China despite never having visited the country. His work, Description

de l’empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie Chinoise, stood as the most comprehensive

compilation and analysis of sources on China during its time. This seminal piece

sparked considerable interest in China across Europe, leading to its translation into

numerous languages and the publication of multiple editions.

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 16 LA CHINE, LA TARTARIE CHINOISE ET LE THIBET

1737

Martino Martini, SJ (1614-1661)

Published by Joan Blaeu, Novus Atlas Sinensis

D’Anville’s 1737 map of China, Manchuria, and Tibet is widely recognized as the

most exquisite printed map of the region from the 18th century. The depicted

territory spans from the Caspian Sea to Sakhalin, the largest Russian island. The map

intricately illustrates boundaries and landmarks, encompassing deserts, mountains,

steppes, and the Great Wall with beautiful detail. It marks the second major

European-published atlas of China, succeeding Martini and Blaeu’s Novus Atlas

Sinensis. The maps featured in Description de l’empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie

Chinoise originated from a collection crafted by Jesuit surveyors between 1708 and

1716, commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor and known as the Kangxi Atlas.

17

JEAN BAPTISTE D'ANVILLE AND JEAN

BAPTISTE DU HALDE MAPS

PROVINCE DE KIANG-SI 1734

Jean Baptiste d’Anville (1697-1782)

Published by Jean-Baptiste Du Halde, S.J.,

Description de l’empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie Chinoise

Original Print, 1734. Paris.

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 18 NEW AND ACCURATE MAP OF CHINA

DRAWN FROM SURVEYS MADE

BY JESUIT MISSIONARIES, BY ORDER

OF THE EMPEROR 1747

05

Emanuel Bowen’s 1747 map of China is heavily influenced by Jean-Baptiste

Bourguignon d’Anville’s original work, adapted and translated specifically for a

British audience.

Emanuel Bowen (1694?-1767) was a distinguished British engraver and mapmaker

renowned for his exceptional atlases and county maps. Throughout his career, he held

the esteemed position of mapmaker to both George II of England and Louis XV of

France. Despite his significant contributions, including training notable mapmakers

like Thomas Kitchin and Thomas Jeffreys, Bowen tragically passed away in poverty.

Emanuel Bowen (1694?-1767)

Copper engraving, Original Print. 1747. London

19

NEW AND ACCURATE MAP OF CHINA DRAWN FROM SURVEYS MADE

BY JESUIT MISSIONARIES, BY ORDER OF THE EMPEROR

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 20 EMPIRES DES MONGOLS

CONRAD MALTE-BRUN 1837

06

Conrad Malte-Brun (1755-1826) was a Danish-French cartographer and

revolutionary with a fervent dedication to the ideals of a free press. He played a key

role in establishing several French cartographic organizations, including the Paris

Societe de Geographie. Following in his father’s footsteps, his son, Victor

Malte-Brun, continued his legacy by republishing his father’s works and creating

maps of his own.

Jean-Jacques-Nicholas Huot,

Atlas Complet du Precis de la Geographie Universelle de Malte-Brun

Original Print, 1837. Paris

21

EMPIRE DES MONGOLS CONRAD MALTE

THE RITA LIU CARTOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION

BOOKLET PAGE 22 John Barrow (1764-1848)

Engraved by Benjamin Baker,

Published by George Nicol Original Print, 1796. London

23

A SKETCH OF JOURNEY FROM SHE-HOL IN TARTARY BY LAND TO PEKIN ND

FROM THENCE BY WATER TO HANG-TCHOO-FOO IN CHINA

A SKETCH OF A JOURNEY FROM SHE-HOL

IN TARTARY BY LAND TO PEKIN

AND FROM THENCE BY WATER

TO HANG-TCHOO-FOO IN CHINA

07

The inaugural British embassy to China, famously known as the Macartney

Embassy or the Macartney Mission, was led by George Macartney in 1793. The

journey took Macartney from Zhe-Hol (Chengde) to Beijing, and then southward to

Hang-Tchoo-Foo (Hangzhou) via the Great Canal of China. Despite being

diplomatically unsuccessful with no political outcomes, Macartney’s expedition

proved significant in mapping new geographies and customs previously unnoticed

by Europeans.

George Nichol (1740?-1848) was a Scottish-born bookseller who served as the

bookseller to King George III for over 40 years. Operating his printing press, he

published accounts of government-funded expeditions, including James Cook’s

exploration of the Pacific Ocean and the Macartney Chinese expedition. Benjamin

Baker (1766-1841) held the position of Principal Engraver for the British Admiralty

and the British Ordnance Society.

This sketched map is credited to John Barrow (1764-1848), who accompanied

Macartney on the journey and served as the comptroller of the mission. Barrow is

most renowned for his role as the Second Secretary to the Admiralty from 1804 to

1845. Following the China expedition, he continued to accompany Macartney on

later missions, including one in South Africa, and later in life became a dedicated

advocate for Arctic expeditions.

The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies

4th Floor Ningyuan Building

University of International Business and Economics

No. 10 Huixin East Street Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029

www.thebeijingcenter.org

The Beijing Center is a registered

Section 88 charity in Hong Kong