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China / Japan: Kunyu Wanguo Quantu, 'A Map of the Myriad Countries of the World', Western Hemisphere. Matteo Ricci, Beijing, 1602. This version was produced in Japan, but still in Chinese, c. 1604

China / Japan: Kunyu Wanguo Quantu, 'A Map of the Myriad Countries of the World', Western Hemisphere. Matteo Ricci, Beijing, 1602. This version was produced in Japan, but still in Chinese, c. 1604

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu (坤輿萬國全圖) was printed by Matteo Ricci upon request of Wanli Emperor in Beijing, 1602. Ricci's Chinese collaborators were Zhong Wentao and Li Zhizao.

The map was crucial in expanding Chinese knowledge of the world. It was later exported to Japan and was influential there as well. The date of the Japanese edition - which still used Chinese - is not certain but may have been c. 1604

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