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Joan Blaeu's Atlas Maior was created following a very turbulent portion of China's history. While Martino Martini was mapping China, a peasant rebellion led by Li Zicheng captured Beijing, effectively ending the Ming Dynasty.

Li Zicheng's short-lived Shun Dynasty was forced out of Northern China by the emerging Qing dynasty and relocated further inland with its capital in Xi'an. As of 1644 Shun controlled areas include the provinces labelled by Blaeu and Martini as Xensi, Honan and Hvqang.

Blaeu C 04.jpg needed

Citation:
8b. Joan Blaeu, Atlas maior: Asia, quæ est Geographiæ Blavianæ ... volumen decimum(Amsterdam, 1662)
Shun Provinces,
Marsh's Library Exhibits,
accessed December 6, 2025,
https://www.marshlibrary.ie/digi/items/show/572