Archipel des Chusan

This original sea chart details the northern section of the Chusan (Zhoushan) archipelago, situated off the coast of Zhejiang province, in China. The chart was published by the hydrographic service of the French navy, based on the earlier work of the British captain Richard Collinson, who carried out the most precise topographical and bathymetric surveys of the region after the First Opium War.

The map stands out for its scientific rigour, accurately showing the complex network of islands, channels and sea depths of this strategic enclave, which served as a gateway to the mouth of the Yangtze River and to the port of Shanghai. The piece identifies numerous geographical features and maritime passages fundamental to the commercial and military navigation of the mid-19th century. On the principal island of Zhoushan, this old plan makes it possible to observe the urbanisation and the port of Dinghai, “Ting-hae” on the map.
It is an original period map that reflects the period of the opening of the Chinese ports to international trade. Its sober and technical design is characteristic of the editions of the Dépôt de la Marine, making it an essential document for scholars of Asian cartography and the maritime history of the Chinese coast.