Ricci Map

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
chéng form, comprise
píng screen
panel
书斋 shūzhāi library or study
lie, recline
yóu wander, tour
means, instrument, tool
嗟嗟 jiējiē as it were, yes, indeed
历观 lìguān experience and observe
help, aid
Lì Mădòu 利玛窦 (Matteo Ricci)
山人 shānrén hermit, recluse, religious man
欧逻巴 Oūlúobā Europe
zhŭ compile
舆地 yúdì geography
荐绅 jiànshēn literati, gentry
circulate
I
访 fang inspect an item (e.g., a book)
that (彼国 – Ricci’s country)
lòu carve (as in a woodblock-printed book)
gài for, in fact
and
佛郎机 Fólángjī Franks
hào like, love, be fond of
shí whenever
jīng pass through
绝域 juéyù remote lands
相传 xiāngchuán report, transmit knowledge, to each other
zhì record, make a note of
积渐 jījiān gradually accumulate (knowledge)
shāo slightly, bit by bit
异端 yìduān heterodoxy, heresy
chóng worship
天主 Tiānzhŭ God (term used by Roman Catholics)
fán all, every
pĭn rank
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
zhòng take seriously, regard as important
五伦 wŭlún five relationships
物汇 wùhuì production
zăi year
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.

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