1655 Shanxi, China

XANSI. | IMPERII SINARVM | PROVINCIA | SECVNDA, Joan Blaeu (1655)The map of the Chinese province Shanxi was part of an atlas of China composed by the Italian missionary Martino Martini (1614-1661). On his way back to Rome, Martini stopped in Amsterdam where he sold his atlas to Joan Blaeu (1598-1673). From 1655 Blaeu published Martini's atlas as the 'Atlas Sinensis", the atlas of China, in several languages. The Atlas Sinensis also became an integral part of the Atlas Maior in 1662. The north of Shanxi borders the Great Wall and is clearly visible on the map.