03 / 07

Timeline of Old Japanese Maps

The following typology relies on the typologies of the Historiographical Institute, University of Tokyo, https://wwwap.hi.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ships/index_w91.jsp, and the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (kokudo chiri’in 国土地理院), https://kochizu.gsi.go.jp/.

World maps (sekai-zu 世界図)

  • Maps of India (Tenjiku-zu 天竺図)
  • Map, in which the world [is like] a fruit in one’s palm (Nansenbushū bankoku shōka no zu 南瞻部洲万国掌菓之図)
  • Map of integrated lands and regions of historical countries and capitals (J. Kon’itsu kyōri rekidai kokuto no yu, K., Honil gangni yeokdae gukdo ji do 混一疆理歷代國都之圖)
  • Southern Barbarian world map (Nanban-kei sekai-zu 南蛮系世界図)

Japan maps (Nihon-zu 日本図)

  • Gyōki-zu 行基図 (Japan maps, sought to be based on Gyōki)
  • Ryūsen-zu (Japan maps by Ishikawa Ryūsen)
  • Japan maps by Nagakubo Sekisui
  • Japan maps of the bakufu

Provincial maps (kuni-zu 国図), maps of wide areas (chihō-zu)

  • Maps, commission by the bakufu or daimyō (kuni ezu 国絵図)
  • Maps of the northern territories (Hoppō-zu 北方図)

District maps (gun-zu 郡図)

Village maps (mura-zu 村図)

  • Maps of reclaimed fields (kaiden-zu 開田図)
  • Estate maps (shōen ezu 荘園絵図)
  • Plans (sashizu 差図)

Inō maps (Inō-zu 伊能図) (maps initiated by the cartographer Inō Tadataka, 1745–1818)

Castle maps (shiro ezu 城絵図) and maps of areas below castles (jōka-zu 城下図)

City maps (toshi-zu 都市図)

  • Edo maps 江戸図, Kyoto maps 京都図, Osaka maps 大坂図, Nagasaki maps 長崎図

Travel maps (dōchū-zu 道中図)

  • Charted map of the Tokaidō (Tokaido bunken ezu 東海道分間絵図)
  • Mountain maps 山図 (famous mountains and mines 名山・鉱山）

Architectural maps (kenchiku-zu 建築図)

  • Temple maps (jisha-zu 寺社図)
  • Residential maps (yashiki ezu 屋敷絵図)