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Chinese Junks:
Junks were Chinese transoceanic sailing vessels that originated during the Han Dynasty (220 BCE-200 CE). They evolved into one of the most successful watercraft in history, due mainly to numerous technical advances both in sail plan and hull design.
Sails were cut elliptically and slightly curved; they were spread between multiple masts and were easily reefed, thereby accommodating a variety of wind speeds and directions and they incorporated bamboo inserts (battens) that gave the sail the shape of an airfoil and thus permitted them to sail well on any point. Furthermore, junks had simple rigging with few ropes.
Most often the hull was built from softwoods, although teak was sometimes used. The largest junks were those use for exploration in the 1400s; they reached lengths of 120 meters (394 feet).
The name "junk" in English comes from the Malay dgong or jong. |