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Map Yu ji tu 禹跡圖

About this Item

Title

  • Yu ji tu

Other Title

  • 禹跡圖

Translated Title

  • Map of the Lands Where the Sage-Emperor Yu Left His Traces

Summary

  • This rubbing is of a Chinese map engraved in stone in the seventh year of the Fouchang era of the Qi state (1136). The stele survives in the Forest of Steles in Xi'an. The map is oriented with north at the top and south at the bottom. Over 500 place names are plotted on the map, which represents a panorama of China in Song times. The engraving of the hydraulic systems is especially detailed, with nearly 80 rivers named. The courses of the Yellow and Yangtze rivers are very close to the way they appear on present-day maps. The contour of the seacoast is also quite accurate. Among surviving maps engraved in stone, this map is the oldest and the earliest to have grid marks indicating scale. It is a prime example of the level of mapmaking in the Song dynasty, and occupies an important place in the history of Chinese cartography. In his Science and Civilisation in China, the British scholar Joseph Needham praised this work as the most outstanding map of its time.

Created / Published

  • [Place of publication not identified] : [Publisher not identified], 1136.

Headings

  • -  China
  • -  1100 to 1279
  • -  Cartography
  • -  Inscriptions, Chinese
  • -  Song dynasty, 960-1279

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 sheet, 79 x 78 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library of China.
  • -  Content in Chinese.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
  • -  Title revised per Asian Division.--cc28 2023-01-06

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Chinese Books, Manuscripts, Maps, and Prints

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021668264

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Yu Ji Tu. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, 1136] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668264/.

APA citation style:

(1136) Yu Ji Tu. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668264/.

MLA citation style:

Yu Ji Tu. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, 1136] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021668264/>.