What does a Chinese junk look like?

junk, classic Chinese sailing vessel of ancient unknown origin, still in wide use. High-sterned, with projecting bow, the junk carries up to five masts on which are set square sails consisting of panels of linen or matting flattened by bamboo strips. Each sail can be spread or closed at a pull, like a venetian blind.

What was the largest Chinese junk ever built?

The largest junks ever built were probably those of Admiral Zheng He, for his expeditions in the Indian Ocean. According to Chinese sources, the fleet comprised 30,000 men and over 300 ships at its height. The 1405 expedition consisted of 27,000 men and 317 ships.

What are traditional Chinese boats called?

sampans
A sampan is a relatively flat-bottomed Chinese and Malay wooden boat. Some sampans include a small shelter on board and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers and are often used as traditional fishing boats.

Why is a Chinese boat called a junk?

It entered the Malay and Chinese languages by the 15th century, when a Chinese word list identifies it as a Malay word for ship. The origin of the word “junk” in the English language can be traced to the Portuguese word junco, which is rendered from the Arabic word j-n-k (جنك).

What is a battened sail?

On sailboats, a sail batten is a flexible insert in a sail, parallel to the direction of wind flow, that helps shape its qualities as an airfoil. Battens are long, thin strips of material, historically wooden but today usually fiberglass, vinyl, or carbon fiber, used to support the roach of a sail.

What is the difference between a sampan and a junk?

As nouns the difference between sampan and junk is that sampan is (nautical) a flat-bottomed chinese wooden boat propelled by two oars while junk is discarded or waste material; rubbish, trash or junk can be (nautical) a chinese sailing vessel.

What were Zheng He’s ships like?

If recorded accounts are taken as factual, Zheng He’s treasure ships were mammoth in size with nine masts and four decks, capable of accommodating more than 500 passengers, as well as a massive amount of cargo. Some sources claim the ships were even longer — 180 meters (600 feet).

What did Zheng He discover?

An admiral in the Imperial Chinese navy, Zheng He made seven voyages to Southeast Asia, India, and Africa to explore and trade. Zheng meanwhile sailed to the East African nation of Somalia, where he obtained lions, leopards, ostriches, zebras, and other animals, which were viewed with amazement in China.

Why are junk sails red?

The reddish-brown color of the traditional junk sail is a result of an additive, what’s known as “tanbark.” The woven grass (then later canvas) sails were “tanned” to protect them from the elements—dipped in tannins extracted from the bark of oak trees.

Why do Chinese boats have eyes?

Chinese junks had painted eyes on them, one on each side. It was believed that this helped the boat see where it was going.

What is a furling genoa?

Roller Furling Genoas are the workhorses for experienced cruising sailors. Also named the Passagemaker Genoa, these sails incorporate all the features that cruising sailors look for in a headsail: padded luff, reef reinforcing patches, and UV leech and foot covers for roller furling. …

What is sail roach?

Roach is a term also applied to square sail design—it is the arc of a circle above a straight line from clew to clew at the foot of a square sail, from which sail material is omitted. The greater the departure from the straight line, the greater the “hollow” in the roach.

What are the two types of junk in China?

There are two types of junk in China: Northern junk, which developed from Chinese river boats, and southern junk, which developed from Austronesian ship designs, which have been trading with the Eastern Han dynasty since the 2nd century AD.

What is the history of the Chinese junks?

Chinese junks developed from smaller living or fishing boats such as sampans in the Han Dynasty of 206 BCE-220 AD, being used primarily to traverse inland waterways and coastal waters. However, by the 15th Century AD their size and role had evolved massively into trans-continent trading and military vessels,…

What is a Chinese junk boat?

Chinese junks developed from smaller living or fishing boats such as sampans in the Han Dynasty of 206 BCE-220 AD, being used primarily to traverse inland waterways and coastal waters.

How much does a Chinese junk weigh?

This beautiful Chinese Junk is 22,000 lbs of Old Growth Teak. Dragon Lady is a full Chinese three masted, Lug rigged, Teak Junk, built in Hong Kong in 1958 at the Ho Sung Boatyard. She is 33′ long with a Beam of 13’6″ and a 4′ Draft.