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The use of Geographic Information System in the development and utilization of ancient local chronicles

Suoling Zhu (University Library, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China)
Ping Bao (Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Civilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China)

Library Hi Tech

ISSN: 0737-8831

Publication date: 21 September 2015

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply Geographic Information System (GIS) in the development and utilization of Chinese ancient local chronicles to achieve the mining and visualization of historical data about products distribution and dispersal in Products in Local Chronicles of Guangdong.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 1,756 records of product-related location names in Products in Local Chronicles of Guangdong of the Qing dynasty, which are recognized by a name recognition system, as attribute data; taking the spatial data of Chinese administrative geography of the Qing dynasty in 1820 and the Historical Atlas of China as spatial data; connect the attribute data with relevant spatial data based on the table connection function of Arcmap in Arcgis 8.3 to implement the data management, cartography and analysis.

Findings

The application of GIS in the development and utilization of ancient local chronicles was quite successful. With some thematic maps, knowledge about products distribution and dispersal in ancient books was vividly displayed so as to facilitate relevant researches.

Research limitations/implications

Only product-related location names inside China were analyzed, not other named entities in local chronicles; and only static visual display was achieved, not dynamic visual display. Historical maps of the world can be used to carry out the visualization of the products distribution and dispersal in the world, and even the visualization of other knowledge, such as poetries and songs scattered over many places in China. The process of products dispersal and the distribution of poetries and songs can be dynamically and visually displayed by pictures, audios, videos, multimedia, etc.

Practical implications

By using GIS in the development and utilization of Chinese ancient local chronicles, this paper explores a new way for the collation of ancient books and open up a new area for the research of digital humanities.

Originality/value

This is the first try about the application of GIS in the development and utilization of ancient local chronicles, and also the same of digital humanities research in the field of agricultural history.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their gratitude to Nanjing Agricultural University which Humanities and Social Science Grant (No. SK2014033) helped fund and support this paper.

Citation

Zhu, S. and Bao, P. (2015), "The use of Geographic Information System in the development and utilization of ancient local chronicles", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 356-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-03-2015-0028

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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