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The Earliest Printed Map of Japan and the Mythical Island of Java Major
Finely colored example of Benedetto Bordone's maps of Japan and Java Major, which appeared in his Libro di Benedetto Bordone... de tutte l'isole del mondo, first published in 1528.
In 1528, Benedetto Bordone, a Venetian cartographer, published his Isolario, a comprehensive collection of maps and descriptions of islands known to the Western world at the time. Among these were Java Major and Ciampagu, the latter being an early European name for Japan. These maps provide a fascinating glimpse into the geographical knowledge and misconceptions of the early 16th century, as well as the rich cultural and economic significance attributed to these distant lands.
Bordone's work is notable for being the first atlas to cover the entire world without relying on Classical geography. Prior to this atlas, only the Waldseemüller/Ptolemy Geographia, which was essentially a Ptolemaic atlas despite incorporating "modern" maps, had attempted to chart lands beyond the Old World. However, with this work, Bordone breaks from this tradition, mapping all the previously unknown regions of the world, including specific areas of America, and basing the book on contemporary isolario data rather than on Ptolemaic sources.
Java Major
Java Major, according to Bordone's map, is a vast and wealthy island situated to the south of the equator. The map reveals that Java Major was believed to be divided into seven kingdoms, each rich in various spices such as pepper and galangal, crucial commodities in the global trade networks of the time. The text accompanying the map emphasizes the island's abundance in resources, stating that it is "habondantissima di piper, gallanga, & di tutte altre maniere di specie" (exceedingly rich in pepper, galangal, and all other kinds of spices).
Bordone's depiction of Java Major reflects the European fascination with the Spice Islands, driven by the lucrative spice trade that spurred explorations and colonial ambitions. The island's position, as noted in the map, is about 434 miles south of the equator and extends across the fourth parallel, indicating a detailed, albeit not entirely accurate, understanding of its location. The description also highlights the island's religious practices, mentioning the worship of gods, which suggests a recognition of its rich cultural traditions.
The map of Java Major by Bordone is emblematic of the period's geographical knowledge, blending factual information with imaginative elements. The detailed description of the island's division into kingdoms and its wealth underscores the importance of Java Major in the early modern economic landscape, particularly within the context of European colonial and mercantile aspirations.
Ciampagu (Japan)
In contrast to the detailed description of Java Major, Bordone's depiction of Ciampagu, an early name for Japan, is shrouded in more mystery and speculation. Ciampagu is presented as a distant and somewhat enigmatic island. The name itself, derived from Marco Polo's accounts, reflects the limited and often second-hand information available to European cartographers about Japan at that time.
The map depicts an oval-shaped island featuring a prominent city situated by a bay and a castle nestled in the mountains. The city's location approximately aligns with present-day Kyoto, Kobe, or Osaka on the main island of Honshu. Given that the map is based on Marco Polo's writings, any resemblance to actual geography is likely coincidental. Many cartographers remained skeptical about the existence of Japan until it was confirmed by the rediscovery of the archipelago by Portuguese sailors in 1543.
The map of Ciampagu portrays it as a singular, significant island, distinct from the mainland, emphasizing its isolated and exotic nature. Bordone’s description conveys a sense of fascination with this far-off land. The text accompanying the map of Ciampagu notes its considerable distance from known trade routes and its unique position in the world, highlighting both its geographical and cultural isolation from the European perspective.
Ciampagu’s appearance in Bordone’s Isolario underscores the early stages of European awareness and curiosity about Japan. The island's representation in the map is indicative of the limited direct contact between Europe and Japan, which would not be significantly altered until the arrival of Portuguese traders in the mid-16th century. Bordone's work thus serves as a precursor to the more detailed and accurate cartographic representations that would emerge as direct interactions between Europe and Japan increased.
Benedetto Bordone (1460-1531) was a polymath who was born in Padua and worked in Venice. He was an illuminator, engraver, miniaturist, editor, and geographer. It is possible he made the first globe in Italy. His most famous work is the Isolario, or Book of Islands, which included many of the earliest printed maps of islands in the New World.
Bordone, a prominent Venetian manuscript editor, miniaturist, and cartographer, was born in Padua, a city that was then part of the Republic of Venice. Although his exact date of birth remains unknown, historical records indicate that his parents married in Padua in 1442, and he himself was married in 1480. Bordone's contributions to the field of cartography, particularly through his seminal work, Isolario, have cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in the Renaissance cartographic tradition.
Bordone's most renowned work, Isolario (The Book of Islands), printed in Venice in 1528, is a comprehensive compilation that describes all the known islands of the world. The book offers detailed accounts of each island's folklore, myths, cultures, climates, geographical situations, and historical narratives. It stands as a testament to the popularity of the isolario genre in 15th and 16th century Italy and serves as an illustrated guide for sailors, incorporating the era's latest transatlantic discoveries.
One of the notable features of Isolario is an oval depiction of the world, a map type invented by Bordone. This innovation was later formalized into the equal-area elliptical Mollweide projection three centuries afterward. Bordone's map portrays a distorted view of the New World, showing only the northern regions of South America and depicting North America as a large island labeled Terra del Laboratore (Land of the Worker), a likely reference to the region's active slave trade during that period, which also influenced the name Labrador.
The book also contains the earliest known printed account of Francisco Pizarro's conquest of Peru, making it a significant historical document. Among the numerous woodcut maps included in Isolario, twelve are dedicated to the Americas. These maps feature a plan of "Temistitan" (Tenochtitlan, modern Mexico City) before its destruction by Hernán Cortés, and a map of Ciampagu, the earliest known European-printed map of Japan depicted as an island.
Benedetto Bordone's familial connections are also of interest; he is reputed to have been the father of Julius Caesar Scaliger, a noted classical scholar, and the grandfather of Joseph Justus Scaliger, who is recognized as the founder of the science of historical chronology. The original maps from Bordone's Isolario are highly valued today for their historical significance and intricate craftsmanship. Through his work, Bordone has left an indelible mark on the history of cartography, providing invaluable insights into the geographical knowledge and cultural perceptions of his time.
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