Chapter 33 Section 3 History teaches us lessons

But we should also see another aspect of the history of map surveying and mapping: Although China once had many world records, these high-level achievements often failed to play their due role, and even did not attract attention at the time, and were only rediscovered by researchers in modern times.The maps drawn with huge manpower and material resources have always been the treasures of the royal family, and only a few people can consult and use them, and they have no chance with ordinary scholars and ordinary people.It is precisely because the number of maps is too small, some of which are only isolated copies, that it is difficult to survive once a war breaks out.Before the map of the Mawangdui Han Tomb was unearthed, except for the stone-carved maps of the Song Dynasty, the earliest printed maps handed down from generation to generation were no earlier than the Song Dynasty, and the drawn maps were no earlier than the Ming Dynasty, and the number of them was limited.

The negative impact of Chinese traditional culture's contempt for science and technology and sticking to stereotypes made literati look down on surveying and mapping technology, limiting the role of maps as an auxiliary means of learning history, and also preventing the promotion of advanced technologies that have been mastered. The correct location of the Yellow River has been determined. However, the source must be included in the wrong interpretation of the Confucian classics.When other countries in the world lag behind China, this other side is often covered up by an advanced surface; when China's development lags behind the West, this other side is ruthlessly exposed to the world.

In the agricultural era, the relatively superior geographical environment, developed economy and advanced culture made the Chinese intoxicated with the status of "the world" for a long time, not only despising foreign experience, but also not paying attention to overseas geographical knowledge, let alone actively exploring foreign countries , so many times missed the geographical knowledge and cartography achievements that are at your fingertips, and even the advanced experience that has been learned has not been inherited. When we review the history of Chinese map surveying and mapping, we should be proud, but we should think deeply.