Cargo Junk by Landström

A cargo junk with multiple masts that may have similar features to Zheng He’s (d. 1433 or 1435) Treasure Ships (picture drawn by Landström 1961: 219, pl. 538

This rather big junk was popular in the 19th-mid 20th century in Chang Jiang coastal area. These junks were called Sha-Chuan. They were able to sail on high waters and could be found on China's North-South coastal route. The hull is built in the traditional structure contour with a balanced lug-sail. The 5 masts are not positioned in a straight line compared to the centerline of the ship. The bulkhead consists of groups of two. Between the two walls, there is a narrow space where no luggage can be stowed but which is used to sit the masts. The masts are not always placed in the center of the ship. These narrow spaces are also used for storing ballast or even as living quarters. When sailing, freshwater could also be stored here. The rudder is a balanced one. An eye is painted on each side of the bow. If it were a fishing vessel the eye would be looking downward.

Note: This ship is more like the Chinese model of Pechili trader of 1938, traced in Landström's book. It is also known as Kiangsu trader, Shantung trader, or Shantung five-masted junk. The model is built plank on frame and largely finished in a stain natural wood and varnished. This type of vessel is one of the two oldest types of Chinese sea junk- the other being the Antung trader. These vessels could be up to 41 meters in length and crewed by 20 to 30 men. They have a flat bottom for inshore work and are turret built which gives great strength. Such craft could carry up to 400 tons of cargo in numerous watertight compartments hired out to merchants. The Pechili trader is unique in the stepping of her masts, the foremast and the auxiliary mizzen being fixed to the port side and the mizzen to the port of the central line (to clear the rudder post). Occasionally a large topsail and spinnaker were set in addition to the normal lugsails. The sails are supported with bamboo battens, which provide extra strength. These crafts were used as ocean-going vessels to transport cargo, normally oil and large disks of compressed soya bean.