The World Map Sekai Bankoku Zu from the Encyclopedia Tokai Setsuyd Hyakkatsu (Complete Compendium of Urban Knowledge, Osaka, 1801)

Abstract

This work studies the world map from the popular encyclopedia Tokai Setsuyō Hyakkatsū 都会節用百家通 (Complete Compendium of Urban Knowledge) (Osaka, 1801) from the perspective of borrowing sources, typological features, combination of European, Buddhist, Chinese, and Japanese geographic and spatial concepts. The map is a partial copy of the world map by Nagakubo Sekisui 長久保積水 (1717-1801), but has many features typical of the Buddhist world view. We consider in detail the representation of India, China, Europe, and mythical countries. Special mention is made of the representation of ships in the map.

Keywords

• mapping
• setsuyoshu
• world map
• matteo ricci
• nagakubo sekisui
• tenjiku