The collection consists of a woodblock print showing Beijing (Peking) within the city walls, oriented to the north. The print is probably a mid- to late-nineteenth century copy of a print from the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820). The map includes street names, various public buildings and structures, including palace grounds, temples, city walls and gates, and other points of interest. It is a popular print, intended for practical use by travellers. The map has been annotated in pencil with English transliterations of names of city gates. An English title "Plan of Peking" has also been added.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical Note:
William Woodville Rockhill (1854-1914) was an American diplomat and a leading scholar in Chinese and Tibetan studies. He served with the American Legation in Peking (Beijing) in the 1880s and was United States Ambassador to China from 1905-1909.
Local Numbers:
NAA MS 7151
NAA INV 10000007
USNM Accession 24520
USNM Catalog 152649
Variant Title:
Plan of Peking
Map of the Capital City
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Genre/Form:
Works of art
Woodblock prints
Maps
Citation:
MS 7151 Shou shan quan tu [Map of Beijing], National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution