16th Century Sailing Ships: The Chinese Merchants And Their Junk Ships
Long before high tech gadgets and mass produced products ruled the market, people all over the world have been buying things that are made in China. In the older times, Chinese merchants roamed the globe to trade their wares. The Chinese 16th century sailing ships could be seen in many ports all over the world. These Chinese 16th century sailing ships are commonly known as a junk ship, treasure ships, horse ships, supply ships, troop transport and many others.
We must understand that in the olden times, people tend to call a boat after its purpose. Thus, if a boat is laden with goods and supplies, it becomes a supply ship and if it is used to transport valuable things, it becomes a treasure ship. Since at that time the Chinese were know for leading just about any types of goods in their ships, this sailing ship became more widely known as "junk ship" as the years passed by.
Structure Of The Junk
What really made the Chinese 16h century sailing ships very popular in its day was that it is generally easy to sail and it can travel fast. Compared to the traditional square rigged ships, the junk ship is more flexible and it can sail into the wind. Its ability to sail into the wind made the Chinese junk ship one of the fastest ships in the olden times. The structure of the sail of the junk ship made it more reliable compared to some other types of ships. Technically, the sail of the Chinese junk ship is just like one of modern aerodynamically structures sails used by modern day windsurfers and catamarans.
History
The history of the Chinese 16th century sailing ships goes back into the Han Dynasty which ruled China from 220 BC – 200 AD. Ancient Chinese records show that these junk ships were used by merchants to carry their goods to foreign ports and to bring back foreign goods upon its return to the Chinese mainland.
Over the years, these junk ships evolved and become one of the most successful kinds of ships in the history of humankind. Many of our present day sailboats are patterned after the original 16h century sailing ships of the Chinese. Some of the present day sailboats that use the design of the original 16th century sailing ships are the catboat, the ketch, the yawl and the schooner.
Long before high tech gadgets and mass produced products ruled the market, people all over the world have been buying things that are made in China. In the older times, Chinese merchants roamed the globe to trade their wares. The Chinese 16th century sailing ships could be seen in many ports all over the world. These Chinese 16th century sailing ships are commonly known as a junk ship, treasure ships, horse ships, supply ships, troop transport and many others.
We must understand that in the olden times, people tend to call a boat after its purpose. Thus, if a boat is laden with goods and supplies, it becomes a supply ship and if it is used to transport valuable things, it becomes a treasure ship. Since at that time the Chinese were know for leading just about any types of goods in their ships, this sailing ship became more widely known as "junk ship" as the years passed by.
Structure Of The Junk
What really made the Chinese 16h century sailing ships very popular in its day was that it is generally easy to sail and it can travel fast. Compared to the traditional square rigged ships, the junk ship is more flexible and it can sail into the wind. Its ability to sail into the wind made the Chinese junk ship one of the fastest ships in the olden times. The structure of the sail of the junk ship made it more reliable compared to some other types of ships. Technically, the sail of the Chinese junk ship is just like one of modern aerodynamically structures sails used by modern day windsurfers and catamarans.
History
The history of the Chinese 16th century sailing ships goes back into the Han Dynasty which ruled China from 220 BC – 200 AD. Ancient Chinese records show that these junk ships were used by merchants to carry their goods to foreign ports and to bring back foreign goods upon its return to the Chinese mainland.
Over the years, these junk ships evolved and become one of the most successful kinds of ships in the history of humankind. Many of our present day sailboats are patterned after the original 16h century sailing ships of the Chinese. Some of the present day sailboats that use the design of the original 16th century sailing ships are the catboat, the ketch, the yawl and the schooner.
1 comment:
Nice information ... I am looking for a yard to help build a replica of a 90 foot merchant junk that sailed in the armadas of Zheng He about 1400. Supposedly, all the plans and drawings of these great ships were destroyed...?
bmassey
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