清人对内外洋的地理认知

Qing Perspectives of the Inner and Outer Oceans

在清代我国近海海域被划分为内洋、外洋和公海性质的大洋。清人在日常生活中主要根据离岸远近、水色深浅、有无沙洲暗礁、山岛多少等这些显著的海洋地理特征对内外洋进行描述。内外洋的划分多以岛屿、港湾、沙洲等作为标志。这些共性的地理特征或许是清人对内外洋较普遍的认知。

The Qing categorized the oceans into the Inner and Outer Oceans. The difference between the two lay in the distance from the shoreline, the color of the seawater, and the density of islands, among other factors. These geographic features constituted the general geographic understanding of the world during the Oing.