Antique map of Japan Empire, Imperium Japonicum, 1740

"Imperium Japonicum Per Sexaginta et Sex Regiones Digestum Atque Ex Ipsorum Japonensium Mappis Descriptum" is the Latin title of a map created by Matthäus Seutter. It translates to "The Japanese Empire Divided into Sixty-Six Provinces, Described from Japanese Maps."

This map, published by Seutter in the early 18th century, depicts the Japanese archipelago and its provinces during that time. It is based on the cartographic information available from Japanese sources, which were considered quite accurate for the period.

Seutter's map showcases the divisions of Japan into sixty-six regions, providing a detailed view of the country's geography, cities, towns, rivers, and mountain ranges. The map's artistic style is characteristic of Seutter's works, with ornate decorative elements and cartouches embellishing the borders.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Japan had a policy of relative isolation, known as the Sakoku period, restricting foreign trade and contact. Despite these restrictions, there was still some exchange of geographical knowledge and cartographic information between Japan and the Western world. Seutter's map, based on Japanese sources, offered Europeans a glimpse into the geography and regional divisions of Japan at the time.

Matthäus Seutter (also spelled Matthias Seutter) was a German cartographer and map publisher who lived from 1678 to 1757. He was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, and became one of the most prominent mapmakers of his time.

Seutter initially trained as an engraver and later established his own publishing company in Augsburg, where he produced a wide range of maps, atlases, and globes. His maps covered various regions of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He was known for his decorative and ornate style, incorporating elaborate cartouches, vignettes, and illustrations into his maps.

Seutter's works were highly regarded for their accuracy and artistic quality. He collaborated with other notable cartographers and engravers of his era, such as Johann Baptist Homann and Tobias Conrad Lotter. Seutter's maps were often updated and revised to reflect the latest geographic discoveries and political changes.

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