Cantino Map of 1502 and Zheng He’s 1418 map
Written by Dr. Gunnar Thompson.
The 1418 Map is an exciting addition to the database of the 1421 Project
because it adds another dimension to the extensive foundation of evidence
that has already been established.
The map has features that are similar to the DeVirga 1414 Map, the Ming
Shanhai Yudi Quantu Map (copied c. 1600), and the Cantino Map of 1502. Thus,
it fits largely within the context of world geography as it was known to the
Chinese and the Portuguese during the 15th century. The map seems to have
limited “modernizations” that reflect later European ideas about the world
such as: Mercator’s concept of 4 Polar Isles (derived from Roman and Dutch
sources); Mercator’s placement of New Guinea in the middle of the Pacific
Ocean closer to South America than to Asia; and Mercator’s lower bulge in
South America. Presentation of the map as two conjoined circles representing
the Eastern and Western Hemispheres seems to follow the European style of
presenting the world in an elongated planispherical projection. However, the
portrayal of the continents in a schematic fashion with little actual
conformity to precise longitudes and latitudes is pretty characteristic of
the traditional Chinese style that we see in the Shanhai Jing Map and the
Ming Shanhai Yudi Quantu. So I would characterize this map as an early Ming
version of world geography circa the given date (1418) with minimal
“modernizations” that might have been added when it was copied in 1763.
Orthodox scholars might simply discount the map on the basis that it was a
copy of 17th century or 18th century European maps. They should be pressed
to show a specific map that was the basis for such a copy. Aside from the
very few features mentioned above, it fits well within the known
characteristics of Chinese and European cartography of the 15th century.
Thus, dating is based mainly on content and style.
Regarding the Prime Meridian: We also see China somewhat offset on the
Shanhai Yudi Quantu (c. 1428, copied c. 1600). I think this is an artifact
of an attempt to present a balanced view of the world conveniently splitting
the Old World continents from those of the New World with the Pacific Ocean
(Eastern Ocean or China Sea) as the perimeter of a circum-pacific commercial
arena. By the Yuan Dynasty, cartographers seem to have abandoned the need to
portray China at the very physsical center of the world–although it held
that position from a commercial and diplomatic stand point. We see this
expressed already in the Kangnido and in the Marco Polo charts. It may well
be that this is a reflection of the Moslem and Ptolemaic influence that
entered Chinese cartography under the Yuan Dynasty whose astronomy and
mapmaking utilized Persian scientists.
It is my impression that the apparent Antarctic Continent on the 1418 map
derives mainly from explorations of Australia and Terra del Fuego. Norway
and England were omitted perhaps because both nations were not very powerful
during the 15th century. Florida, which appears to be missing from the East
Coast of North America, is perhaps indicated as one of the islands in the
middle of the Atlantic Ocean–as it appears on the Andrea Bianco Map of 1436
(where it is identified as “Antillia”).
