1700 Qing or Ming Dynasty Chinese Map of Mount Emeishan, Sichuan, China

An extraordinary find. This is a fragile early 17th or 18th century early Qing Dynasty Chinese xylograph (woodblock) map of Mount Emei or Mount Emeishan. Emishan is one of Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China. It is located at the western rim of the Sichuan Basin. The mountain is known for its 76 Buddhist monasteries of the Ming and Qing period. Maps such as this were issued as souvenirs or guides to pilgrims ascending to the sacred summits. Chinese maps of this era are extremely rare in private hands and almost never appear on the market.