Knowledge Transformation and Local Involvement in the Encounter of Chinese and Jesuit Mapping Practices, 1582-1610

In my dissertation, I embark on an intellectual journey to explore the transformation and circulation space of geographical and mapping knowledge during the encounter of Chinese and Jesuit mapping practices from 1582 to 1610. Delving into the rich history of knowledge, I adopt a processual approach to illuminate the intricate interweaving of ideas and practices that unfolded during this period, with particular emphasis on the reproduction and circulation process of the first two versions of Matteo Ricci’s Chinese world maps.

Prevailing research on this encounter in the late Ming dynasty tends to view cartography as a universally transcultural endeavor, often treating different versions of those world maps as the sole analytical focus and the product of a limited set of specific practices, regardless of their context or purpose. This map-centric perspective has led to conclusions that either European cartography deeply influenced Chinese practices or that Chinese cartography steadfastly rejected European knowledge and remained unchanged. In doing so, these studies inadvertently overlook the dynamic elements involved in the encounter beyond the maps themselves.

To unravel this complex tapestry of knowledge, my dissertation poses several critical questions: Who, except for Matteo Ricci, equipped with what knowledge background and interpersonal network, involved in the reproduction of the maps? How, why, and by whom were these maps consumed and interpreted? How did new mapping knowledge contribute to further knowledge circulation and reproduction?

To delve deeper into these intricate interactions, my dissertation proposes moving away from the terms "European cartography" and "Chinese cartography." These broad concepts carry numerous assumptions and preconditions that can be self-contradictory. Moreover, the term "cartography" is an 18th-century European concept that may not be suitable for studying Chinese mapping practices in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Instead, my dissertation examines the local protagonists and the multifaceted processes involved in mapping practices, including map production, consumption, and circulation, across different times and spaces. This approach allows for a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the shifts in mapping modes and the exchange of geographic and mapping knowledge during the period. To achieve this, I will draw upon a diverse and vibrant palette of primary sources, including local gazetteers, diaries, personal literature, official veritable records, and other textual documentation, in addition to the maps themselves. Through this rich tapestry of sources, my dissertation endeavors to reveal the intricate and compelling patterns of knowledge transformation and local involvement in the reproduction and circulation practices of the early Chinese world maps engraved by the famous Jesuit, Matteo Ricci.