<p>I think the romanization used in that map is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_postal_romanization" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chinese postal romanization</a>. I can't find a comprehensive table listing all places.</p>
<p>If I want to be accurate just for a few places, I would open a modern map and put it side by side for comparison. Minor towns can be roughly located based on the surrounding major cities. You can also use <a href="https://archive.org/details/lrichardscompreh00rich/page/198/mode/2up" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the reference [a] on wiki</a> to check.</p>
<p>If I want to save some time to update many places, I'll actually ask ChatGPT first, like</p>
<pre><code>Can you show me the modern Chinese name and its pinyin for the following in Chinese postal romanization?

Paotingfu
Chenchowfu
Ninghaihsien
</code></pre>
<p>Here's the answer. It looks good.</p>
<pre><code>Paotingfu - 保定府

Modern Name and Pinyin: 保定 (Bǎodìng)

Chenchowfu - 陳州府

Modern Name and Pinyin: 淮阳 (Huáiyáng) (Note: Today, this area is part of Henan province and has evolved administratively.)

Ninghaihsien - 寧海縣

Modern Name and Pinyin: 宁海 (Nínghǎi)
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-30T05:55:26.437Z
After searching around for a bit, I actually did find a table of all the names using an atlas that this map seems to be based on. They have latitude and longitude associated, and while it's slightly off I can calculate the small difference to discover the correct location. Further, I found a book for sale on Postal Rominization by the Chinese Republic at the time that would be useful if I'm willing to pay over 100 dollars. I find it unfortunate there's so few resources in English regarding this specific subject.
F35H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-29T16:04:55.623Z
2024-10-29T16:04:55.623Z
kyc
<p>I'm reading a map from 1916 that has outdated romanization and location names. While I am easily finding the bigger towns, cities, and districts I struggle when it comes to the more minor towns. I'm struggling a little to compare the romanization to modern romanization as well. While it'd be fine to simply use the towns on the old map, I would at least like to update the romanization which is what I'd need help in. How would I figure out the differences between romanizations, and how - if possible - would I find the modern towns on a modern map?</p>
<p>As reference, this is the map from 1916:
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:1916_maps_of_China#/media/File:A_map_of_China_prepared_for_the_China_Inland_Mission_-_btv1b530644162.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:1916_maps_of_China#/media/File:A_map_of_China_prepared_for_the_China_Inland_Mission_-_btv1b530644162.jpg</a></p>

<traditional-characters><old-chinese><romanization>
I'm currently reading a romanized, english map of China from 1912. I'd like to modernize the locations. How should I go about it?
# I'm currently reading a romanized, english map of China from 1912. I'd like to modernize the locations. How should I go about it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-10-29)

I'm reading a map from 1916 that has outdated romanization and location names. While I am easily finding the bigger towns, cities, and districts I struggle when it comes to the more minor towns. I'm struggling a little to compare the romanization to modern romanization as well. While it'd be fine to simply use the towns on the old map, I would at least like to update the romanization which is what I'd need help in. How would I figure out the differences between romanizations, and how - if possible - would I find the modern towns on a modern map?

As reference, this is the map from 1916:
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:1916_maps_of_China#/media/File:A_map_of_China_prepared_for_the_China_Inland_Mission_-_btv1b530644162.jpg>

**Tags:** traditional-characters, old-chinese, romanization


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-10-29. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

I think the romanization used in that map is [Chinese postal romanization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_postal_romanization). I can't find a comprehensive table listing all places.

If I want to be accurate just for a few places, I would open a modern map and put it side by side for comparison. Minor towns can be roughly located based on the surrounding major cities. You can also use [the reference [a] on wiki](https://archive.org/details/lrichardscompreh00rich/page/198/mode/2up) to check.

If I want to save some time to update many places, I'll actually ask ChatGPT first, like

```
Can you show me the modern Chinese name and its pinyin for the following in Chinese postal romanization?

Paotingfu
Chenchowfu
Ninghaihsien

```

Here's the answer. It looks good.

```
Paotingfu - 保定府

Modern Name and Pinyin: 保定 (Bǎodìng)

Chenchowfu - 陳州府

Modern Name and Pinyin: 淮阳 (Huáiyáng) (Note: Today, this area is part of Henan province and has evolved administratively.)

Ninghaihsien - 寧海縣

Modern Name and Pinyin: 宁海 (Nínghǎi)

```

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: After searching around for a bit, I actually did find a table of all the names using an atlas that this map seems to be based on. They have latitude and longitude associated, and while it's slightly off I can calculate the small difference to discover the correct location. Further, I found a book for sale on Postal Rominization by the Chinese Republic at the time that would be useful if I'm willing to pay over 100 dollars. I find it unfortunate there's so few resources in English regarding this specific subject.  

---

