Before seeing your comment and searching myself, I wondered if it was California as well, since it was thought that California was an Island for some time.
I had guessed it was Sri Lanka since it is also shown just off the coast of India. Then I figured it was more likely Indonesia given it’s surrounded by so many other islands and not that close to India. But yeah, now that I know that the name meant Japan I’m wondering if it’s depiction on the map is a conflagration of accounts of Indonesia and Japan.
Anyone know what Zipangri is? Could that be Baja California, or what?
Edit: Japan. Is apparently just off the coast of Mexico
Apparently Japan’s shape wasn’t well known either
Before seeing your comment and searching myself, I wondered if it was California as well, since it was thought that California was an Island for some time.
I had guessed it was Sri Lanka since it is also shown just off the coast of India. Then I figured it was more likely Indonesia given it’s surrounded by so many other islands and not that close to India. But yeah, now that I know that the name meant Japan I’m wondering if it’s depiction on the map is a conflagration of accounts of Indonesia and Japan.
Given the lack of shape, it could be just about anything - I wonder if it was one report, or hearsay with no details and they filled in something
They were generally working with very, very rough, incomplete, conflicting, or confusing info, yes.
It’s pretty astounding to me that this is even remotely as accurate as it is.