Chinese Explored Asia Long Before the Europeans: An Ancient World Map Tells All

Chinese Explored Asia Long Before the Europeans: An Ancient World Map Tells All is the fruit of the author's research into the history of exploration prior to the European Age of Discovery. This book analyses thoroughly the Asian regions of an important ancient world map: Kunyu Wanguo Quantu (KWQ) (坤舆万国全图), translated as "Complete Geographical Map of All the Kingdoms of the World". The map was published in 1602 by Italian Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci in China. For over 400 years, the map has been regarded as strictly of European origin and based on maps which Ricci brought with him to China in 1582 during the Ming Dynasty. However, after analysing the histories of all the geographical terms associated with Asia on the KWQ, this book presents multilayer evidence that the Asian regions on this map are of Chinese origin and that they reveal eras long before the arrival of Europeans: Japan in 897, Joseon in 1433, Ming China in 1433, Southeast Asia in 1432–1433, the Indian Subcontinent and its eastern periphery in 1432–1433, West and Central Asia in 1433, and Asia to the North of China in 1428–1433. The present book, and the author's previous book titled Chinese Global Exploration in the Pre-Columbian Era: Evidence from an Ancient World Map, can serve as a foundation for future China studies and offer new insights into the world history of land and maritime exploration. Read more