July 28, 2011
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More Chinese Junk
One of these days I’ll actually resume posting about my own sailing. However, it’ll have to wait until the pintles on my rudder are ground down by a local mechanic. For now, as before, this website is mostly a repository for links to interesting sailing stuff I find on the Internet, that I re-post in case it goes a-missing, as so much on the Internet is transitory. I’ve tried posting to my Facebook site, but it gets lost in the shuffle of everybody’s day-to-day inanities that I really don’t care about! I really wanted a place where the only information on it is stuff that I’m interested in. It’s not that I’m not interested in my family and friends, but. . . well, why am I trying to explain myself? If one is a sailor, one understands. If one isn’t, then one won’t. Grant me the serenity to know the difference.
Once I get caught up with my links, I will start to log my sailing again, which is something that I originally intended this particular web log to be — a summary of things I learn on each trip, even maintenance work lessons.
But first, my favorite (aesthetically) sail type! (From an article at http://www1.chinaculture.org/created/2005-06/21/content_69875.htm
Typical Models of Ancient Chinese Junks
Hailed as the country with the longest shipbuilding history in the world, China boasts a variety of wooden boat models, with a total of up to a thousand models by the middle of the 20th century. In ancient times, there were such famous junk (the European word for China’s wooden sailboats) models as the Sha-chuan (sand ship), Niao-chuan (bird ship), Fu-chuan (good-fortune ship), and Guang-chuan (wide ship), among which the Sha-chuan, Fu-chuan and Guang-chuan junks were well known both at home and abroad.
The Sha-chuan Junk
Sand Ship
Originating in Chongming County of East China’s Jiangsu Province, the predecessor of Sha-chuan junks can be traced back to theSpring and Autumn Period(770-446BC). The model was named “sand-proofflat-bottom ship” during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and “flat-bottom ship” in theYuan Dynasty(1271-1368). Not until theMing Dynasty(1368-1644) was it called “sand ship”.
The sand ship has many laudable characteristics. First, it is very safe. The flat bottom can prevent the ship from stranding while also helping it to safely sail in wind or waves. Also, due to the flat bottom, the waterline is low, which makes the ship more tide-resistant. Second, the ship, which can sail down or against wind or water, has good navigability. Third, with a large deck and other equipment, the sand ship has the best stability among the ancient ships. Finally, with its many masts and sails, which help to minimize resistance, the sand ship can sail swiftly.
With both the bow (front end) and stern (back end) square-shaped, the sand ship is also called “square boat.” It is a typical flat-bottom sailing ship with a low freeboard (the distance between the water and a ship’s deck), large deck camber (the arched part of the deck), and a long projecting stern gallery (balcony). Its bow, which is obviously lower than the stern, is convenient for anchoring (as well as pulling anchor) or mooring. Near the waterline, several hardwood logs are fitted to the ship, from bow to stern, to improve its stability. To reduce the ship’s lateral drifting when navigating, a leeboard (plank frame) is fitted on each side, which is a symbol of the sand ship.
As to the sand ship’s holding capacity, it varies according to historical records: 500 to 800 tons, or 250 to 400 tons, but the large oceangoing vessels of the Yuan Dynasty could hold as much as 1,200 tons.
During the reign of Emperor Daoguang of theQing Dynasty(1644-1911), there were 5,000 sand ships in Shanghai alone, and over 100,000 in the whole country. Sand ships were widely used, serving both river and sea purposes. Historical records reveal that Chinese sand ships reached Java (Indonesia) as early as in the Song Dynasty (about the 10th century). Frescos depicting sand ships can still be found in India and Indonesia.
The Fu-chuan Junk
Fu-chuan Junk
A type of sharp-bottom sea boat, the Fu-chuan Junk, was named after the producing place — East China’s Fujian Province– and became known for sailing in the southern sea and high seas. During the Song Dynasty, sea boats produced in Fujian were seen as the best, and in the Ming Dynasty, Fu-chuan junks made up the navy’s main force.
The ancient Fu-chuan junks were usually as high as a building, with each junk having a sharp bottom, a large deck, an up-curved bow and stern, and protection boards on both sides. The entire junk had four storeys. The first floor was filled with earth and stones for stabilizing the ship; the second floor served as the soldiers’ resting place; and the third floor was for controlling the ship. Usually, the soldiers would occupy the fourth floor during battles, to shoot arrows. Installed with strong attacking equipment, the Fu-chuan junks, when pressed down, could sink the enemy’s warships. With a draught (underwater cargo space) of four meters, the Fu-chuan was an excellent deep-sea warship.
The leading ship in Zheng He’s fleet, called treasure ship, adopted the Fu-chuan model.
The Guang-chuan Junk
Manufactured in today’s Guangdong Province in Southern China, the Guang-chuan Junks features a sharp bow and a long hull, with small beam arches and a low deck. The ship body, supported with a keel framework, was closely spaced with ribs and cabins. With a strong structure, Guang-chuan junks had sound navigability and continuity.
Editor: MaggieThis information reposted from
