The age of exploration connected new global trading networks and fueled people's thirst in the ”making” of cultural and geographical knowledge of distant lands. After the Spanish established their main colonial stronghold in Manila in 1571, then governor-general Guido de Lavezaris obtained the ”Map of the Advantages of the Past and present” (《古今形勝之圖》) through the aid of Chinese merchants. Later, with help from Chinese translators, an Augustinian father was able to translate the map's literal content into Spanish, and Guido de Lavezaris in turn presented the translated version of the map to the Spanish monarch Felipe II for review. The information from this map was Spain's first official comprehension of the geographical and cultural knowledge concerning China and East Asia. Therefore, this article argues the map should be considered a cornerstone document in understanding early modern European Sinology.The article discusses the Spanish acquirement of the map and investigates the true identity of the Chinese translators who offered their efforts in the creation of the Spanish version. Additionally, the article also strives to explore the Spanish cognitive ”making” of Taybin (大明) via the cultural exchange progress between Spanish and Chinese translators through an analysis and comparison of relevant Spanish historical materials in translation and original Chinese documents.