47289
> 「地図B」は世界中の **人に平等である** ように作られた。

In this sentence, the interplay of the part in bold and the rest of the
sentence is in question.

  1. I learned that NOUN + に + VERB can have the meaning of doing VERBAL COMPLEX as a symbolic action in relation to NOUN, like here: "田中さんが結婚祝いにこのお皿をくださいました。" => Tanaka gave us this plate as present for our wedding.  
In this case 世界中の人 would fill the place of NOUN, then comes に, and then である
fills the place of VERB.

  2. The use of ように makes things a bit difficult for me. So far, One of the various ways of using ように seems the most probable to me: Verb 1 + ように + Verb 2 => Verb 1 is a means to reach Verb 2, like this: 泳げるように毎日練習しています。("I practice every day so that I can swim")

  3. So the whole sentence would read like this: "Concerning Map B, it was made so that there is equality for all people in the world."  
Another problem I have is that the "symbolic action" character of 平等である isn't
as clear as I think it should be. Especially if I translate "...so that there
**is**...", the indicative makes it more than symbolic in my opinion. On the
other hand, even in the phrase in 1, which was taken from my textbook, I do
have issues with the description "symbolic action". Symbolic actions usually
don't have a tangible manifestation, I think. At least not as tangible as a
present I can touch and use etc.. But well, maybe I'm just too picky. It's
hard enough to describe language and it's still a minor issue after all.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-05-11T11:18:36.603
47286
2021-10-14T19:04:19.413
2021-10-14T19:04:19.413
30454
20172
question
grammar meaning
「地図B」は世界中の人に平等であるように作られた
you've got the basic idea right. i'd have translated it as "map B was made to
be fair to people throughout the world".

i think there are two things you are doing that are getting in your way. the
first is that you're trying to be to be too faithful to Japanese grammar in
your translation (particularly in the way you're trying to keep "map B" as a
topic). Secondly, i think you're overthinking this a bit regarding the
abstractness. (omg. i can't tell you how many times i did something similar--
overthinking the text--only to kick myself in the end for making it too
difficult. i'm not sure how to advise you on this second point other than to
be aware you might be doing it. it was a very difficult habit for me to
break.)

If you're new to reading Japanese, it can help to read on topics you're
already familiar with in English (or whatever other language you feel fluent
in). eventually that's what i did and i found i was much better able to
understand the Japanese since i was already familiar with most of the
underlying topics. and after a while i was able to tackle topics that were new
to me but also of interest.

i apologize for typos. i'm on the road and responding from my cell phone.
please feel free to correct.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-11T12:18:48.247
47289
2017-05-11T12:25:23.643
2017-05-11T12:25:23.643
4875
4875
47286
answer
As for 1, your interpretation is incorrect.

Your interpretation of **に** in "田中さんが結婚祝い **に** このお皿をくださいました" is correct.  
But your interpretation of **に** in "世界中の人 **に** 平等であるように作られた" is incorrect.

The **に** in "世界中の..." means " _for_ " not " _as_ ", and **ある** does not mean
_to exist / there is_ but _so as to be_ in the set phrase **であるように** , then
the whole phrase may be translated like:  
地図 _B was made so as to be equal for all people in the world_.

I'll give you some examples using **であるように**.  
- 父{ちち} **であるように** 振{ふ}る舞{ま}え！ Behave so as to be a father!  
- 淑女｛しゅくじょ｝ **であるように** 静｛しず｝かに食｛た｝べなさい。 Eat calmly so as to be a lady.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-11T13:22:47.693
47290
2017-05-12T02:32:29.410
2017-05-12T02:32:29.410
20624
20624
47286
answer
> 「地図B」は世界中の人に平等であるように作られた。 This は is a object marker and 世界中の人に means "to the
> people of the world..." So the sentence is like "the map B was made to be
> equal to all the people in the world."
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-11T13:51:54.560
47292
2017-05-11T13:51:54.560
22087
47286
answer