1910 Japanese Map of Taiwan, w. Insets of Tamsui and Keelung

A curious c. 1910 Japanese map of Taiwan, focusing on lighthouses and harbors, especially Tamsui and Keelung.

A Closer Look

The main map at left is oriented towards the west, with the Taiwan Straits at the top. Harbors and islands, including individual islands of the Penghu group, are labeled with both Chinese characters (kanji) and, in many cases, Latin letters (rōmaji). The circles and semi-circles surrounding these features refer to the range of lighthouses, which were built or renovated in quick succession following Japan's colonization of Taiwan in 1895. For example, the lighthouse at Fujijiao / Fūki-kaku was built in 1897, that at Bitoujiao / Petō-kaku in 1897, and that at Baisha / Hakusa (白沙岬) in 1901.

At right are two insets illustrating the harbors at Tamsui (Danshui) / Tansui and Keelung (Jilong) / Kīrun, respectively. These give a sense of shoals and bottoms, changes between the tides, and landward features, such as the harbors' namesake towns, topographic features, customs stations, surveying posts, a fueling station, and lamps (indicating low and high tide).

Publication History and Census

This map includes no publication information but, from appearance and context, likely dates from the late Meiji or early Taisho era or c. 1910. It is the sixth map in a series (第六圖), which might have covered the lighthouses of Japan or may have focused specifically on Taiwan. The map somewhat resembles those made by the Japanese Coast Guard (海上保安庁海洋情報部) around the same time, though the Coast Guard charts generally included soundings, which this map lacks. In any event, we have been unable to locate any other examples in institutional collections or on the market.