International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences 2018; 3(2): 26-32 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijics doi: 10.11648/j.ijics.20180302.12 ISSN: 2575-1700 (Print); ISSN: 2575-1719 (Online) An Exploration to Edition Identification of Ancient Chinese Maps Yang Fen Peking University Library, Beijing, China Email address: To cite this article: Yang Fen. An Exploration to Edition Identification of Ancient Chinese Maps. International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences . Vol. 3, No. 2, 2018, pp. 26-32. doi: 10.11648/j.ijics.20180302.12 Received : June 5, 2018; Accepted : July 25, 2018; Published : August 18, 2018 Abstract: Among the Chinese ancient resources collections, map is one remarkable kind of it. How to identify the edition of the maps has become the important work of the collation. Based on the Compilation Program of “Ancient Chinese Maps Collected in Peking University Library”, this article analyzes a large number of ancient Chinese maps, and summarizes four valuable methods of map edition identification. First, taboo clues can be taken as the guidance for identifying the edition year of ancient Chinese maps; Second, the toponymic evolution information is obviously an important analysis point in the textual research of editions; Third, edition identification through background investigation, such as background associated with map compilation history or thematic maps, even including divergent associated background investigation; Fourth, relevant important archives could also play a key role in the identification of edition year. In the conclusion, the author emphasizes that comprehensive clues shall be applied in an overall analysis and research for editions of ancient Chinese maps in actual collation work. It also showed that the textual research on maps highlights its own peculiarity while sharing some same features as that of ancient Chinese books. This work requires accumulated practical experience during the actual work, as well as constant learning to increase comprehensive knowledge. Keywords: Maps, Edition, Ancient Chinese, Textual Research, Peking University Library ancient Chinese maps. The collection was carried out 1. Introduction according to the ancient Chinese maps made before 1949, The collection of ancient Chinese maps in Peking and impressive over 600 categories of maps were included, University Library presents a unique stance in the collection involving historical and geographical, river and water of ancient Chinese books. With the same sources of the conservancy, coastal defense and frontier defense, road and collected Chinese rare books, the ancient Chinese maps stem mileage, scenic spots and historical sites, and administrative from previous collections of Imperial University of Peking area maps. and library collections of Yenching University during This program specially invited Professor Li Xiaocong national colleges & departments re-arrangement in 1952. from Center for Ancient Chinese Classics & Archives of Imperial University of Peking mainly collected ancient Peking University as a consultant. Professor Li conducted a Chinese maps compiled and published by Chinese people, professional textual research on the collected ancient Chinese whereas Yenching University focused on ancient Chinese maps with an unclear edition year in the original catalogue. maps made by foreigners. As a result, the two special sources As Professor Li wrote in the book entitled Enlightenment of contribute to the current collection of ancient Chinese maps Ancient Chinese Maps , “Although ancient Chinese maps in Peking University, which covers more than 1000 seem to be less accurate than those in the west, they excel at categories of comprehensive Chinese and foreign-made maps. a clear practicality. No matter for the government or for folks, In September 2014, Peking University Library and Zhonghua Chinese maps were made for the purpose of use, rather than Book Company worked together to publish “Collection of simply for private collection. [1] ” “Because the traditional Ancient Chinese Maps in Peking University Library ”, which Chinese society had a practical requirements for maps, most ushered into a new era of the collation work of collected of ancient Chinese maps lacked names of maker, drawers or International Journal of Information and Communication Sciences 2018; 3(2): 26-32 27 engravers and the production year [2].” Therefore, it is “Xuanzong 15-Prefecture Map”, Chinese character “ 玄 generally difficult to conduct a textual research on editions of (xuan)” in the caption lacks the last stroke; Chinese traditional ancient Chinese maps, and make a catalogue for characters “兔玄 (tuxuan)” in the “Map of the North Wei them. By virtue of his academic accomplishments in history, Dynasty”, and “弦 (xuan) ” in the map of the states in the geography and textology, Professor Li solved some difficult Spring and Autumn Period, both lack the last stroke to taboo problems in the textual research on editions of the collected the the name of Emperor Kangxi; Chinese character “真 ancient Chinese maps, gave many professional opinions, (zhen)” in the map of the Southern Song Dynasty, remains including very valuable methods required in identifying unchanged, although it is a taboo to the name of Emperor editions of ancient Chinese maps and cataloging them. On Yongzheng. Considering the above taboo clues, the atlas is the basis of Professor Li's practices in identifying the identified as a historical evolution maps that was painted collected ancient Chinese maps, the key points and during the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasty (1662-1722). ideologies of the textual research on editions of ancient Comprehensive Atlas of the Qing Dynasty (SB/981.2/1147) Chinese maps have been summarized so as to facilitate the contains eight block-printed thread-bound brochures, collation work of ancient Chinese maps. including hundreds of maps of 19 provinces of the Qing Dynasty, like Zhili, Shengjing, Jiangnan, Jiangxi and Fujian. However, there is not any edition information in the books. 2. Edition Identification with Taboo In this case, Professor Li started at the “maps of Zhili”, and Clues found the “Eastern Tombs of the Qing Dynasty” in the second map, which only indicates the “Xiaoling Tomb” of During the collation work of ancient books, taboo words Emperor Shunzhi and the “Jingling Tomb” of Emperor are often used as the clues for identify ancient books without Kangxi within the territory of Zunhua. This clue implied that edition information. Mr. Chen Yuan wrote in Examples of this map might be engraved and printed in the Emperor Historical Taboos, “Taboo is a peculiar custom of China... Its Yongzheng Period, which could be further proved by any abuse could cause the confusion in ancient books, whereas its taboo words about the name of Emperor Yongzheng. The proper use could help explain doubts in them and identify the first map of Zhili shows “正定 (Zhengding)”, a place name authenticity and the age of ancient books. [3]” This method of Hebei Province, which was formerly known as “真定 can also be adopted in the textual research on editions of (Zhending)” before the Yongzhen Period of the Qing Dynasy ancient Chinese maps. For this purpose, researchers shall but changed into “正定 (Zhengding)” for tabooing the name know well about names of Chinese emperors in each dynasty of Emperor Yinzhen in the first year of the Yongzhen Period. to identify taboo words in maps. Moreover, they shall be In addition, the “maps of Jiangnan” show the “boundary of familiar with the places involving the names of Chinese 仪徵 (Yizheng)”, a place name of Jiangsu Province, which ancient emperors so as to quickly lock in the specific was formally known as “仪真 (Yizhen)” and later changed geographic position in a map and prove if it is tabooed. into “仪徵 (Yizheng)” for tabooing the name of Emperor Because the existing ancient maps are mainly dated from the Yinzhen. Therefore, this atlas should be engraved during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, especially from the Qing Dynasty, Yongzhen Period of the Qing Dynasty (1723-1735). this method can be taken to quickly initiate the edition Map of Unified Territory of the Ming Dynasty analysis and then conclude its approximate age. (SB/981.2/4611) indicates “a total of one thousand three Historical Evolution Atlas: From Tribute of Yu to the Ming hundred and thirty-six counties, two hundred and fifty-eight Dynasty (SB/981.209/3456) is a folded ink-drawing edition states, and one hundred and eighty-one prefectures within the containing 32 maps from the Tribute of Yu, the states in the unified territory of the Ming Dynasty” in the upper left corner. Spring and Autumn Period to the provinces, prefectures, It was originally catalogued as the block-printed edition of states, counties and garrisons of the Ming Dynasty. The the Ming Dynasty. Nevertheless, Chinese character “ 宁 original book cover is inscribed with “Presented by Art (ning)” lacks the last stroke throughout the map, such as “西 Academy of the Ming Dynasty”, which is easily mistaken as 宁府 (Xining Prefecture)”, “ 宁夏府 (Ningxia Prefecture)”, a book of the Ming Dynasty. Nevertheless, the taboo “ 宁 武 府 (Ningwu Prefecture)”, “ 江 宁 府 (Jiangning information can be found to solve this confusion. First of all, Prefecture)”, “ 宁海 (Ninghai)”, “ 永宁州 (Yongning State)”, 靖 卤 Chinese characters “ (jinglu)” were found in the “宁州 (Ningzhou State)”. This is for tabooing the name of comprehensive map of provinces, prefectures, states, Emperor Daoguang, and it indicates the upper limit of the 卤 counties and garrisons of the Ming Dynasty, and “ (lu)” edition year of this map. In addition, “Fuhengwan Painting 虏 was changed from former taboo Chinese character “ (lu)”. Shop” in a small font was found at the left side. So its overall 虏 胡 戎 蛮 In the Qing Dynasty, “ (lu)”, “ (hu)”, “ (rong)”, “ edition was identified as the block-printed edition engraved 夷狄 (man)”, “ (yidi)” were all contemptuous appellations by Fuhengwan Painting Shop between the first year of the from the Han people to the minorities, and listed as taboos.