Cartographical Progress: National Atlas of China

Summary

This review introduces the National Atlas of China (1959–62), edited by Chang Chi-yun, a five-volume bilingual atlas reflecting the Nationalist Chinese perspective on national boundaries, including claims to Outer Mongolia and the MacMahon Line. It traces the historical development of Chinese national atlases from the 1718 K'ang Hsi atlas to the 1934 Shun Pao atlas. The reviewer notes the atlas's cartographic features, such as dual political and topographic maps for each province, varied scales, and bilingual indices, while criticizing its outdated administrative divisions. It also highlights the usefulness of the Taiwan and Hainan maps. The latter part of the text briefly mentions other cartographic-historical studies and bibliographic works. Overall, the atlas is valuable for historical and political geography, albeit reflecting a specific political stance.