Ferry distribution at the lower reaches of the yellow river on the former Japanese military maps

Abstract

The former Japanese military maps are the most direct resources through which to learn about historical and geographical phenomenon. They are also crucial materials for research in the field of historical geography, regional studies, environmental sciences, etc. However, most of the previous research on the former Japanese military maps was mainly focused on the catalogue and their history. Based on this, the current paper studied the ferries on the lower reaches of the Yellow River that were recorded on these maps, by comparing them to the Mengjindu ferries, as recorded in the travel notes. This paper attempts to confirm the value and limitations of the former Japanese military maps and to rediscover the distribution of these ferries. This paper further studies the characteristics and the factors affecting their distribution. Three out of the four ferries recorded in the travel notes were identified in the maps, which recorded most but not all of the ferries. By recovering the Former Japanese military maps, 178 ferries were identified along the lower reaches of the Yellow River, which was distinct from the denser distribution in Shandong Province. There were fewer ferries along the water in Henan Province. The reasons for the imbalance in the distribution of ferries include the situation of river-way, rail transportation, roads that connect metropolitan (urban) areas and rural areas, as well as the density of periodic markets along the river.