The Introduction Of Western Cartographic Technique And Its Influence On Atlas Of The Chinese Empire

Affected by the difference between the ideological origins of geography, China and West formed a completely different traditional cartography. At the end of Ming dynasty, Missionaries came to China. Missionaries also spread many Western science and technology to China. Western world map included therein. With the introduction of Western cartography, Chinese traditional cartography gradually changed. Kangxi years, west mapping technology has been used in Chinese national map. Atlas of the Chinese Empire was drawn during this period. This essay, use Atlas of the Chinese Empire as research subjects research on the Early Qing cartography. There is significant for the development of modern cartography.The first part of the thesis combed origin and development of cartography. Discussion of how the western cartography came to China. Affected by different geographical and cultural background, Chinese and Western cartography developed in different directions. Ancient China has a long history of cartography,In primitive society prototype of map has been appeared. Based on already unearthed map, There have been a true sense of the map during the period of Warring States. After Pei Xiu summed up"Cartography six elements", China formed its own traditional cartography. Excellent map illustrator began to emerge.During the period of ancient Greece, Ancient Western Cartography formed. Influence by knowledge of astronomy, graticule and map projection was used in map drawing. During the period of middle Ages, under the influence of theocracy Western cartography regressed. People were superstitious religious map. The heritage of Western cartography has been interrupted an this time. To the Renaissance western cartography tradition was rediscovered, excellent map illustrator began to emerge,In the period of late Ming Dynasty, with the tread of Western learning, Western cartography was spread to China. Ancient Chinese traditional word view was "a square earth and spherical heavens". This view was contrary to the Western geographical knowledge. Since then, Western cartography was used in Chinese map drawing. Under such circumstances Atlas of the Chinese Empire was born.The second part of this paper introduced the contents of Atlas of the Chinese Empire, described the contents of province’s map. These maps contain a lot of geographic information. This paper shows toponymy, hydrographic on these maps. Atlas of the Chinese Empire covers most areas of Qing dynasty. Mapping range northeast to Sakhalin Island, southeast to Taiwan Island, west to Yili, south to Hainan Island.The third part of this paper expound surveyors of Atlas of the Chinese Empire and used technology of these maps. Atlas of the Chinese Empire used the most advanced mapping technology in the world at that time. It caused the atlas has more geographic information then previous maps. Western missionary led Atlas of the Chinese Empire’s surveying work. The team had almost covered all areas of China. Atlas of the Chinese Empire was born in 1718, the map shows almost all territory of Qing dynasty. Officials who had worked in Qing Dynasty Astronomical Bureau made a great contribution for Atlas of the Chinese Empire.They mastered surveying technology during surveying and mapping.Additionally the article discussed the significance and influence of Atlas of the Chinese Empire. The atlas had the highest precision and the most extensive geographic information of China at that time, which play the role of a milestone in the history of Cartography. With the birth of Atlas of the Chinese Empire, traditional Chinese cartography changed. Atlas of the Chinese Empire’s influence continues to this day.