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1871 Manuscript Map of Linjiang Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China

Linjiang-jiangxi-1871
$375.00
臨江府城 / [The Walled City of Linjiang Prefecture]. - Main View
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1871 Manuscript Map of Linjiang Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China

Linjiang-jiangxi-1871

Qing map of LinJiang.

Title


臨江府城 / [The Walled City of Linjiang Prefecture].
  1871 (undated)     13 x 14.25 in (33.02 x 36.195 cm)

Description


This is an extremely rare 1871 manuscript map of Linjiang Prefecture (臨江府), Qingjiang County (清江縣), Jiangxi Province, China. The map presents the locations of government offices, temples, shops, rivers, bridges, villages, and mountains outside the walled city.
Geographic Changes and Place Names
Linjiang is now a township (鎮) under the administration of Zhangshu City (樟樹市), previously a township until it merged with Qingjiang County (清江縣) in 1988 to form Zhangshu City. The river marked here as Tongluo (銅鑼江) is the Gan (赣江), and the smaller river just east of Linjiang, unmarked here, is the Yuan River (袁河 or 袁水). The river to the west of the city is the Xiao River (蕭江). The islands noted here (Jinfengzhou 金鳳洲, Xinmatou 新馬頭, etc.) no longer exist and many place names have changed, while others remain but have been modified over time. For example, a town across the Yuan River from Linjiang retains the name Jinfengzhou, a neighborhood in the town is called 'North Gate' (北門), likely the location of the former northern gate of the walled city, while another is called Shanjia Bridge (善嘉橋 at top-center) even though the bridge no longer stands, and Yongtai 永泰市 at bottom-right is, like Linjiang, now a township (鎮).
Linjiang in Late Imperial Times
Although there is a modern town at Linjiang and most of the city wall has been demolished, many historical structures remain in 'ancient town,' including a bell and drum tower (鐘鼓樓) and two of the bridges noted here (高橋, 蕭洲橋). Known colloquially as the 'Stone Dragon City' (石龍城), Linjiang's historical record dates to the Tang Dynasty (when it was called Xiaotan 蕭灘鎮) and by the Ming period it was an important cultural, commercial, military, and administrative center that saw brisk business in the timber, medicinal, and brewing industries. Recent archaeological digs have found a distinctive Fanchengdui Culture (樊城堆文化) that existed in the area more than 3,000 years ago. Lingjiang was recently (in 2019) named as one of 350 or so 'Famous Historical and Cultural Towns of China' (中国历史文化名镇) that are designated for preservation and officially recognized for their cultural heritage.
Publication History and Census
This map does not appear in any institutional holdings and is otherwise unknown. It may have been attached to the 1871 gazetteer of Linjiang (臨江府志), or perhaps a gazetteer for Qingjiang County published in 1870 (清江縣志) or the Provincial Gazetteer of Jiangxi (江西通志) dated variously to 1880 or 1881. Earlier editions of the Provincial Gazetteer of Jiangxi from the 17th and 18th centuries included maps of Linjiang, but they were less detailed.

Condition


Very good. Minimal signs of soiling. Wear along central fold.