Imperium Sinicum in XV Regna Seu Provincias distributum...
| Reference: | S43995 |
| Author | Athanasius KIRCHER |
| Year: | 1667 |
| Zone: | China |
| Printed: | Amsterdam |
| Measures: | 455 x 350 mm |
| Reference: | S43995 |
| Author | Athanasius KIRCHER |
| Year: | 1667 |
| Zone: | China |
| Printed: | Amsterdam |
| Measures: | 455 x 350 mm |
Description
Imperium Sinicum Quindecupartitum. Imperium Sinicum in XV regna seu provincias distributum una cum genuino situ urbium metropolitanarum montium fluminum lacum
Fine early map of China, Korea and Japan, from the first edition of Kircher's China Illustrata.
Kircher's map of China, Korea and Japan is based on the work compiled by Jesuit Father Martino Martini. Father Martini's map was gathered from Chinese sources between 1643 and 1650. The publication of theMartiini map greatly advanced European knowledge of the region including the correct locations of many cities and topographical features. The trade route between Canton and Peking is noted and the Great Wall and the Gobi Desert are both graphically pictured.
There were two editions of this map, this being the more decorative of the two, including images of 2 indigenous Chinese men and a more decorative title cartouche than the other edition.
From Kircher's book on China; illustrates land & sea trade routes from Middle East to China.
Athanasius Kircher (1601-1680) was one of the great scholars and travel writers of his time. A German born Jesuit scholar, he has been described as inventor, composer, geographer, geologist, Egyptologist, historian, adventurer, philosopher, proprietor of one of the first public museums, physicist, mathematician, naturalist, astronomer, archaeologist, and author of more than 40 published works. Kircher began teaching mathematics, ethics, and ancient languages at the University of Würzburg. In 1630 and 1637, Kircher petitioned to travel to China, but was unsuccessful in both requests, instead, his China Illustrata, first published in 1667, was a compilation of the most important works of the period, including Martino's Atlas of China published by Blaeu (1655), and the Journals of Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), Alvaro Semedo (1586-1658), Michael Boym (1612-1659 and Melchisedech Thevenot.
Etching, printed on contemporary laid paper, finely colored by hand, usual paper folds, minor restorations in the lower cartouche, overall in good condition.
Bibliografia
Marco Caboara, Regnum Chinae: The Printed Western Maps of China to 1735, 64.2, 65; NORDENSKIOLD: Vol III 520.
Athanasius KIRCHER (Geisa 1601 circa - Roma 1680)
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German Jesuit educated in Fulda, was one of the most remarkable men of his time, seemingly interested in every aspect of life. He was an expert on China and its languages; Egypt and Ethiopia and the source of the Nile; he translated oriental scripts and hieroglyphics; made a scientific study of the evolution of the earth and its physical features; he wrote a treatise on the reasons of magnetic compass variations; and, in the middle of all of that, found time to invent the magic lantern, for which he is probably best remembered. Maps in his book Mundus Subterraneus were the first to describe tides and ocean currents beside showing the sites of all volcanoes known at that time.
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Athanasius KIRCHER (Geisa 1601 circa - Roma 1680)
|
German Jesuit educated in Fulda, was one of the most remarkable men of his time, seemingly interested in every aspect of life. He was an expert on China and its languages; Egypt and Ethiopia and the source of the Nile; he translated oriental scripts and hieroglyphics; made a scientific study of the evolution of the earth and its physical features; he wrote a treatise on the reasons of magnetic compass variations; and, in the middle of all of that, found time to invent the magic lantern, for which he is probably best remembered. Maps in his book Mundus Subterraneus were the first to describe tides and ocean currents beside showing the sites of all volcanoes known at that time.
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