The first Japanese map of the country is said to have been made by the Buddhist Monk, Gyôki (668-749 CE). Although scholars now dispute this theory, these distinctive first Japanese maps are still called ‘Gyôki maps’. The first maps of Japan made in Europe used these ‘Gyôki maps’ as reference. Using these as a starting point, it is possible to see how European maps of Japan developed. Gradually, over time, a fuller more accurate picture of the archipelago emerged as Hokkaido, the north-east Tohoku region, and all the Izu Islands were added.
![05.01 IAPONIAE INSVLAE DESCRIPTIO (Island Of Japan) [2]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi002.jpg)
![05.02 IAPONIA INSVLA (Island of Japan) [03]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi003.jpg)
![05.03 IAPONIA REGNVM (Kingdom of Japan) [06]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi006.jpg)
![05.04 JAPONÆ ac TERRÆ IESSONIS Novissima Descriptio (Japan and the Land of Ezo) [10]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi010.jpg)
![05.05 IMPERIVM JAPONICVM (Empire of Japan) [15]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi015.jpg)
![05.06 IMPERIUM JAPONICUM (Empire of Japan) [16]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi016.jpg)
![05.07 Carte du Japon (Map of Japan) [14]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi014.jpg)
![05.08 NIEUWE KAART VAN'T KEIZERRYK JAPAN (New Map of the Empire of Japan) [18]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi018.jpg)
![05.09 CARTE DU JAPON (Map of Japan) [30]](http://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/archive01/theater/image/PB/PVT/cortazzi/cortazzi020.jpg)
