The Kangnido Map, a masterpiece of Chinese cartography

The Kangnido Map (Honil Gangni Yeokdae Gukdo Ji Do) was made in Korea in 1402 during the reign of King Taejong, by cartographers Kim Sa-hyeong, Yi Mu, and Yi Hoe. Its purpose was to provide a comprehensive representation of the world as it was known at the time, incorporating geographical knowledge from ancient maps of China, as well as the Middle East and Japan.

The sources of this map are diverse: it combines information from Arabic and Persian cartography but especially from earlier Chinese cartographic documents, such as the map of Li Zemin (1330) and the Hunyijiangli tu (1392). Yi Hoe, one of the cartographers, drew heavily on these works to draw up this map, which aimed to compile as much knowledge as possible in a single sheet.

Although designed in Korea, the Kangnido map quickly crossed borders and ended up in Japan, where it is kept at several institutions, including Ryukoku University.

Kangnido Map

A fascinating aspect of this map is its Arab and Western heritage. For example, the map follows a geometric scheme similar to that used Al-Idrissi in his map of the world from the Book of Roger or even in the Map of Ptolemy.

The Kangnido Map and Chinese Cartography

The Kangnido Map is based on Chinese sources, including ancient maps of China from the Yuan and Ming dynasties. It depicts the Chinese Empire in detail, with particular emphasis on trade routes and maritime connections.

One of the characteristics of this map is the importance given to China, which appears in the center with a disproportionate scale compared to the other continents. This choice reflects not only the Sinocentric vision of the world at the time, but also the influence of Chinese administrative maps used for the management of territories.

Another similarity with ancient maps of China is the presence of a large lake in the heart of Africa, an error also found in the Da Ming Hun Yi Tu map, kept in the imperial palace in Beijing.

The representation of the outside world on the Kangnido map

Representation of India

The Kangnido map also illustrates the way South Asia was perceived at the time. India is shown in a flattened and distorted form, a common feature in antique maps of India and Central Asia. Although the proportions are not exact, several place names identified on the map help confirm the presence of India and its importance in the trade networks of the time.

Overview of India on Kangnido map

The representation of Europe

Europe is represented on Kangnido's map, but in a very rudimentary way. It appears as a small marginal region in the far west of the Eurasian continent, with very little detail. There are only a few names, such as Alumangia (which corresponds to Germany). The Mediterranean, although present, is quite distorted.

Overview of Europe on the Kangnido map

The representation of Africa

Africa, on the other hand, is better represented than Europe, which shows the influence of Arabic and Persian maps. There is an evocation of the Nile even if it seems to flow into the Red Sea, a confusion that is also found in some old maps of China. Another interesting element is the presence of a large lake in the center of Africa.

Overview of Africa on Kangnido map

The Kangnido Map: A Unique Evidence of the Chinese Worldview in the 15th Century

The Kangnido map illustrates the beginnings of the interconnection of knowledge between Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arab and European civilizations well before the Great Discoveries. Through its errors and innovations, the The Kangnido map bears witness to a time when geography was in full mutation, influenced by explorations and contacts between cultures.

Today, it continues to intrigue historians and cartography enthusiasts, providing a fascinating window into how the world was perceived in the early 15th century.