Volume 3,Issue 8
From Map to Holy Mountain: Dual Functions of Mapping Engineering and Sacrifice Practice in Changbai Mountain in the Qing Dynasty in the Empire Construction
Changbai Mountain, as an important geographical symbol and cultural symbol in Northeast Asia, showed the dual attributes of natural geographical entity and political and cultural symbol in the process of national construction in the Qing Dynasty. Taking the cartographic engineering and sacrificial system of Changbai Mountain in Qing Dynasty as the breakthrough point, this study systematically investigates how the Qing court brought Changbai Mountain into the visualization system of imperial territory through modern surveying and mapping technology, and strengthened its sacred position as the birthplace of Manchu through sacrificial ceremonies, thus realizing the political integration and ethnic identity construction of the northeast frontier region. The study further discusses the dispute between China and North Korea over the distribution of ginseng resources and the demarcation of the border in Changbai Mountain, deeply analyzes the interactive relationship among the mapping of the Qing court, the sacred mountain sacrifice and the declaration of sovereignty, reveals the historical process of how Changbai Mountain changed from a vague border area to a symbol of imperial sovereignty, and provides a new research perspective for understanding the territorial governance and identity construction mechanism of multi-ethnic countries in Qing Dynasty.
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