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.
Highlights
The collection of ancient Chinese maps in Peking University Library presents a unique stance in the collection of ancient Chinese books
Due to the blanks in the maps, it can be inferred that is a painting draft drawn by Zhaoqing Prefecture of Guangzhou Province in the 24th year of the Kangxi Period (1685) when all provinces presented the local maps for compiling Unified Annals of the Qing Dynasty
If ancient Chinese map collation workers boast a broad vision of literature, and accurately find relevant archives and materials with historical research methods, they can better understand the background of ancient Chinese maps and naturally solve some difficulties
Summary
The collection of ancient Chinese maps in Peking University Library presents a unique stance in the collection of ancient Chinese books. The collection was carried out according to the ancient Chinese maps made before 1949, and impressive over 600 categories of maps were included, involving historical and geographical, river and water conservancy, coastal defense and frontier defense, road and mileage, scenic spots and historical sites, and administrative area maps. This program specially invited Professor Li Xiaocong from Center for Ancient Chinese Classics & Archives of Peking University as a consultant. Professor Li conducted a professional textual research on the collected ancient Chinese maps with an unclear edition year in the original catalogue. On the basis of Professor Li's practices in identifying the collected ancient Chinese maps, the key points and ideologies of the textual research on editions of ancient Chinese maps have been summarized so as to facilitate the collation work of ancient Chinese maps
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