|
|
Post by ALing on Feb 6, 2023 0:08:03 GMT -5
I find it difficult to navigate online maps to get to village levels, if at all, and then not being able to see a broader view to see how different villages are located relative to each other.
Does anyone have any sources for a paper map or atlas that would identify villages in both English and Chinese? So far my own internet searches have not been productive.
Thank you.
|
|
|
|
Post by Henry on Feb 6, 2023 10:19:36 GMT -5
ALing,
Most online map databases that are Chinese or Western - the search is conducted by using simplified Chinese characters and Pinyin romanization ( Cantonese & Taishanese romanization does not usually work. Google Maps has both the English & Chinese names. The problem with Google Maps is that at a large scale (zoomed in) it does not provide the locations of neighboring villages.
Chinese online websites such as Baidu.com or Mapbar.com have more detail.
A match of the Village Database will show you the name of an ancestral villages - as well as the surrounding villages - this is a way of confirming that you have correctly identified & located an ancestral village on a map.
Henry
|
|
|
|
Post by Doug 周 on Feb 6, 2023 18:46:06 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by ALing on Feb 10, 2023 19:36:27 GMT -5
Thank you for your replies. I found an online mapping site called “magnacarta” which seems simpler to use (pinyin input but does not show multiple villages). I may need to input each village separately and create a “collage” type map. As Henry has noted, I should use Village DB to confirm the nearby villages. The file called “Geography of Kwangtung Province for Hawaii Residents” is really interesting for its information and maps. The detail map is close to what I want but is blurry when magnified. I don’t read Chinese so deciphering the names will take time. The less detailed map gave me the idea of making my own map. I would rely on the named larger features as reference points and add in the villages. I found this site nolachinese.wordpress.com/2016/08/07/the-siyi-region/ which also has a map that is close to what I want. Again, I need to decipher the names to see if it includes the villages that I am interested in. Ideally, I want to have an area map of the Sze Yap region with the smaller villages identified. I went to the local map store to look at their paper maps but these only had the counties. I am thinking I may need to somehow get this kind of map from China? |
|
|
|
Post by Doug 周 on Feb 11, 2023 9:30:55 GMT -5
......The detail map is close to what I want but is blurry when magnified. I don’t read Chinese so deciphering the names will take time........ When I imaged the book, I probably did not use a high resolution. Consider ordering a digitized copy from Family Search: www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/697586?availability=Online . Or else, tell me what page you want me to digitize and I will try my best with my mobile phone. You can private email me or I can post the result of the single page online. There is a 1 mb limit for uploads. Digitizing the Chinese characters is the standard issue with us Chinese illiterates. I recommend Pleco.com and purchasing the OCR module. You can use online OCR programs like MDGB: www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=chardict |
|
|
|
Post by Henry on Feb 11, 2023 13:19:04 GMT -5
ALing,
Use the Google Chrome browser
Type in "www.mapbar.com"
Top right - there will be 2 choices - Chinese (Simplified) & English - select English, check the box " Always translate Chinese (Simplified) "
Type in the Pinyin place name you are searching for - locations identified by numbered locations - in the right panel with corresponding place names in English
Henry
|
|
|
|
Post by ALing on Feb 21, 2023 14:20:14 GMT -5
Thank you Doug and Henry.
The link to Family Search gave me sharper map images. And thanks for the step by step instructions to use mapbar.
Alex.
|
|
