The Kangnido

A Korean map that showed Africa as a sailable continent decades before Europeans rounded it, and placed Europe and the Mediterranean on the far left of the world.

Made by

Commissioned from Kwŏn Kŭn (1352–1409) by royal decree; later copy

Date

1402 (original, lost); this copy later 15th–16th century

Held by

This copy: Honkō-ji Tokiwa Museum of Historical Materials, Shimabara, Japan

Medium

Ink and colour; this copy about 220 × 289 cm