The Sunderland Collection Acquires Cao Junyi's A Complete Map of All Under Heaven

One of only three known surviving copies of A Complete Map of All Under Heaven by Cao Junyi (1644) has been acquired by The Sunderland Collection, the other two copies held by the National Archive in Beijing and the British Library in London. 

This world map is significant for its rarity, and for fusing European and Chinese cartographic traditions in a highlly detailed and skilled manner. Created during 1644, A Complete Map of All Under Heaven is the last Ming Dynasty world map, and is the first Chinese world map - as opposed to a Sino-Jesuit map - to adopt longitude and latitude.

It was printed by Cao Junyi in Nanjing, and while employing Chinese cartographic conventions such as the detailed categorisation of administrative subdivisions, Cao also introduced European influences, in particular from a world map by the Dutch cartographer Abraham Ortelius that had been re-printed in Nanjing by the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci in the early 16th century. 

Cao’s map was privately published, and intended for popular use rather than as an exclusive product for the elite. It is printed on delicate paper, to be folded into a cover. Laid out flat, it measures just over 1.2m square.

“We feel very privileged to have acquired this exceptionally rare and important example of antique Chinese cartography," said Helen Sunderland-Cohen, custodian of The Sunderland Collection. "It is an honour to share Cao Junyi’s map with the widest possible audience online, and we hope the artistry and historical significance of this map will be enjoyed by experts, students and enthusiasts all over the world.”

The Sunderland Collection is providing access to this rare woodblock map,which can be viewed in high resolution on its digital platform Oculi Mundi.