Asian eyes in Portuguese Maps: Hybrid Cartographic Representations of China in the Early Modern Age

It is commonly acknowledged that Portuguese cartography played a pioneering role in the depiction of Asia in the Early Modern period. This is particularly true for maps of East Asian maritime spaces, thus confirming the fact that Portugal was a European pioneer in the exploration of this part of the world and made a major contribution to the world’s perception of Asia’s intricate geography. However, equally important visual evidence stems from the fact that some of the most significant of these maps are the result of a synthesis of European and Asian models of representation. This occurred due at least to two different factors: the role played by Portuguese–Asian cartographers and an inventive combination of Eastern cartographic models with typically Western cartographic practices. In this respect, the case of the mapping of China is especially interesting, since it is possible to trace a continuous series of examples from early sixteenth-century maps to late-seventeenth-century maps covering a broad range of scales, from general surveys of the country to provincial charts and urban plans. This study illustrates this cross-cultural visual practice by presenting a selected sample of maps originally drawn in Macao, Malacca and Goa. This is accompanied by an analysis of the specific cultural, geographical and social contexts that gave rise to these unique maps and their contribution toward establishing a contemporary portrait of China.