Notes from the world map of Matteo Ricci
The passages below are from a copy of the Kunyu wanguo quantu 坤輿萬國全圖 of 1602 at the James Ford Bell Library, University of Minnesota (follow the link for a high-quality scan).
The text and notes below were prepared by Prof. Robert Entenmann, St. Olaf College. For a discussion of the map see Ann Waltner, Linda Pearse, and Qin Fang, “Performing Matteo Ricci: The Map and the Music,” Ming Studies 62 (November 2010).
Text in traditional characters
共成大屏六幅以為書齋臥游之具，嗟嗟,不出戶廳，曆觀萬國，此於聞見，不無少補.
利山人自歐邏巴入中國，著山海輿地全圖，薦紳多博之。余訪其所為圖，皆彼國中鏤有舊本。蓋其國人及佛朗機國人皆好遠游，時經絕域，則相傳而志之，積漸年久，稍得其形之大全。
此歐邏巴洲有三十余國，皆用前王政法，一切異端不從，而獨崇奉天主上帝
聖教，凡官有三品。 其上主興教化，其次判理俗事，其下專治兵戎。土產五谷五金百果。酒以葡萄汁為之。工皆精巧，天文性理無不通曉。俗敦實，重五倫，物匯甚盛，君臣康富。四時與外國相通各商游遍天下，去中國八萬里，自古不通，今相通，近七十余載云。
Text in simplified characters
共成大屏六幅以为书斋卧游之具，嗟嗟，不出户厅，历观万国，此于闻见，不无少补。
利山人自欧逻巴入中国，著山海舆地全图，荐绅多博之。余访其所为图，皆彼国中镂有旧本。盖其国人及佛朗机国人皆好远游，时经绝域，则相传而志之，积渐年久，稍得其形之大全。
此欧逻巴洲有三十余国，皆用前王政法，一切异端不从，而独崇奉天主上帝
圣教，凡官有三品. 其上主兴教化，其次判理俗事，其下专治兵戎。土产五谷五金百果。酒以葡萄汁为之。工皆精巧，天文性理无不通晓。俗敦实，重五伦，物汇甚盛，君臣康富。四时与外国相通各商游遍天下，去中国八万里，自古不通，今相通，近七十余载云。
Vocabulary List
| 成 | chéng | form, comprise |
| 屏 | píng | screen |
| 幅 | fú | panel |
| 书斋 | shūzhāi | library or study |
| 卧 | wò | lie, recline |
| 游 | yóu | wander, tour |
| 具 | jù | means, instrument, tool |
| 嗟嗟 | jiējiē | as it were, yes, indeed |
| 历观 | lìguān | experience and observe |
| 补 | bŭ | help, aid |
| 利 | Lì | Lì Mădòu 利玛窦 (Matteo Ricci) |
| 山人 | shānrén | hermit, recluse, religious man |
| 欧逻巴 | Oūlúobā | Europe |
| 著 | zhŭ | compile |
| 舆地 | yúdì | geography |
| 荐绅 | jiànshēn | literati, gentry |
| 博 | bó | circulate |
| 余 | yú | I |
| 访 | fang | inspect an item (e.g., a book) |
| 彼 | bĭ | that （彼国 – Ricci’s country） |
| 镂 | lòu | carve (as in a woodblock-printed book) |
| 盖 | gài | for, in fact |
| 及 | jí | and |
| 佛郎机 | Fólángjī | Franks |
| 好 | hào | like, love, be fond of |
| 时 | shí | whenever |
| 经 | jīng | pass through |
| 绝域 | juéyù | remote lands |
| 相传 | xiāngchuán | report, transmit knowledge, to each other |
| 志 | zhì | record, make a note of |
| 积渐 | jījiān | gradually accumulate (knowledge) |
| 稍 | shāo | slightly, bit by bit |
| 异端 | yìduān | heterodoxy, heresy |
| 崇 | chóng | worship |
| 天主 | Tiānzhŭ | God (term used by Roman Catholics) |
| 凡 | fán | all, every |
| 品 | pĭn | rank |
| 兴 | xīng | promote, encourage |
| 判理 | pànlĭ | manage |
| 俗事 | sushi | secular affairs |
| 兵戎 | bīngróng | military matters |
| 五谷 | wŭgŭ | five cereals (rice, two kinds of millet. wheat, and beans) |
| 五金 | wŭjīn | five metals (gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin) |
| 精巧 | jīngqiăo | ingenious |
| 天文 | tiānwén | astronomy |
| 形理 | xínglĭ | principles |
| 敦实 | dùnshí | simple and straightforward |
| 重 | zhòng | take seriously, regard as important |
| 五伦 | wŭlún | five relationships |
| 物汇 | wùhuì | production |
| 载 | zăi | year |
| 云 | yún | (grammatical particle indicating end of passage) |
© 2011 by Robert Entenmann, all rights reserved. Permission granted for educational use.
This vocabulary is used in a Chinese language Foreign Languages Across the Curriculum component attached to Asian Studies / History 250: Chinese Civilization, a course at St. Olaf College. I would welcome any suggestions or corrections.