Mainland China: Revival of the Junk
©Thomas Hoppe (Text)
Photos: Li Zhonghua and Thomas Hoppe
©Drawings by L. Audemard, courtesy of Wereldmuseum Rotterdam
(Publication 2004, last amendments March 2008)
Two three masted junks (mizzen not set) sailing close hauled on the Huangpu River in Shanghai. (left)
Junk in opposite light on the Huangpu in Shanghai. (middle)
Junk on the Yangzi River at Nanjing in a light breeze. (right)
Photos © Thomas Hoppe 1976
Upon visiting Shanghai and Nanjing in spring 1976 for the first time it was still a common view to see medium sized junks (17-19 m of length) sailing on the Huangpu in Shanghai or on the Yangzi river at Nanjing. During the reform period, which started in 1979, sailing junks became virtually extinct in the Peoples Republic of China. However, a revival of the famous junk tradition is underway.
Lü Meimao (Photo: Li Zhonghua)
"Lü Meimao Zhujiajian" is at present the only true sailing junk found in the Peoples Republic of China, built in traditional Zhejiang (Chekiang) style. Typical for the Zhejiang junk (1-3 masts) is the open upper part of the bow, its bulwarks at the bow are vaulted towards the outside. The Fujian (Fukien) junk has a closed and flat bow above the water-line, without the vaulted bulwark of the Zhejiang junk. The open bow of the Zhejiang junk enables the easy loading and unloading of the boat over the bow. Both types of junks are characterized by a flat-bottomed hull and the typical horse-shoe-shaped stern. (For the general characteristics of the junk design, see the drawings of two fishing junks Qianhui and Shaling from Fujian Province, below.)
Lü Meimao from stern, beam wind, main sail profile with the strongest bend
(Photo: Thomas Hoppe)
A three masted junk from the Zhoushan archipelago from aft, drawing by the French captain Louis Audemard (participant of the campaign against the Boxer uprising, drawn ~ 1900-1915) Source: L. Audemard, 1970, Les Jonques chinoises, Vol. IX (Côtes Est), Rotterdam, (Copyright Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
Different forms of plain junk sterns from Zhoushan archipelago (1900-1915) Source: L. Audemard, 1970, Les Jonques chinoises, Vol. IX (Côtes Est), Rotterdam, (Copyright Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
Three masted junk with open bow, seen from aft, horse shoe shaped stern with ornamentation, hoistable rudder, capstan on deck in front of the main mast, according to Audemard a load carrying junk from Fuzhou, nonetheless, the bow is a typical Zhejiang bow.
Source: L. Audemard, 1970, Les Jonques chinoises, Vol. IX (Côtes Est), Rotterdam, (Copyright Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
Deck plan of a three masted junk with poop deck, according to Audemard of the same commercial load carrying junk from Fuzhou.
Source: L. Audemard, 1970, Les Jonques chinoises, Vol. IX (Côtes Est), Rotterdam, (Copyright Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
"Lü Meimao Zhujiajian" was commissioned in September 2002 by a Tourist Investment and Exploration Company, a state-owned company, stationed on Zhujiajian Island near Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. "Lü Meimao Zhujiajian"(Lü Meimao means "green eyebrow" and is the traditional designation for one type of Zhejiang junk) is not a replica of a former existing junk, but a newly designed boat, following traditional principles. The boat-builder family, father Cen Guofu, born in 1934, began building fishing boats and junks in 1953, but the family tradition goes back to 1915. Beginning in 1975, together with his two sons Cen Wuguo and Cen Guohe, Cen Guofu built junks and fishing boats in Pingyangpu on Zhoushan Island, the biggest island of the Zhoushan Archipelago off the Zhejiang coast.
When built the Lü Meimao was expected to sail with paying guests around the Zhoushan archipelago on day trips, or, on longer trips along the Chinese coast. It was also planned to send this vessel on a friendship tour around South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean down to the Arab Peninsula and the East Coast of Africa, in commemoration of the Ming Dynasty eunuch and sea-farer Zheng He, who visited these areas with a whole fleet of junks 7 times in the 15th century AD (1405-1430).
Since being lauchned the Lümeimao has visited many ports along the Chinese coast, but administrative hindrances have up to now (Dec. 2007) kept her from carrying paying guests. In 2007 upon visiting South-Korea, she had to be tugged.
Lü Meimao (click image for details) (Courtesy Cen Guofu)
The first concept of the Lü Meimao Zhujiajian was laid out by the Cen family around the end of 2001 according to preliminary set measures of 31 m length over deck, 6.4 m beam and 2.8 m depth in the hold, later corrected to 31 m length over deck, 26.3 m in the waterline (theoretical hull speed 12.45 knots), beam 6.8 m, depth in the hold 3.2 m and draft, including ballast, of 2.2 m at the stem and 2.6 m aft . The second drawing of the Cen family had to compete with the proposed drawing by a another boat-builder, who also applied for the commission of the boat. In all, three models (scale 1:30) were prepared by the Cen family, before the building started. A committee decided to give the commission to the Cen family, whose plans and prices were deemed more appropriate. The Cen family had some experience in building high quality wooden boats: in 1999-2000 they had built for the author of these lines a North European wooden sloop of 14.3 m length, a replica of a 19th century design.
Zhoushan archipelago fisher, painted by Ivon A. Donnelly in 1923. (click image for details)
(Source: Donnelly:Chinese Junks and other native crafts, (1924) 1930, Shanghai, Kelly & Walsh)
The selected drawing for the Lü Meimao was subjected to a stability calculation by the Ocean Research Institute of Zhejiang Province (Zhejiang Sheng Haiyang Yanjiusuo). The necessary ballast was calculated at 5o tons (iron-pieces), in addition, the junk has a 10 ton water ballast room behind the fore-mast, stainless steel water and Diesel tanks in the aft, resulting in a total displacement of 230 tons. The Ocean Research Institute served as the surveying institution during the building process. The building began on Oct. 1st 2002 and the hull without accommodation and rigg was launched after only 5 months of building time. Official sea trials and stability tests were carried out in July-August, 2003.
This velocity in building a junk is partly due to the simple structure and timberplan of the junk: the frames have no S-curve, floor-timbers mostly extend over the whole beam of the boat. Frames and floor-timbers are connected by bolts. The planking process is much simpler than e.g. in the building of an oak-planked fishing boat in Europe. The Chinese boat-builder does not make plank models. The bend given to the planks is mostly minimal. Planks are not steamed. The Fujian fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), traditionally one of the most widely used timbers is very light and flexible (the hard timbers from Southeast Asia which were used for building the new Lü Meimao are not!). The Chinese boat-builder only makes the hull including rigg and rudder, he installs the engine, but, he even does not caulk himself, this is done by specialized workers. The inner accommodation is made by cabinet makers. Specialized family enterprises produce the caulking material (youhui).The division of labor within the craft is very developed. The timber is not dried before the building starts. In the case of the Lü Meimao, which was built during the dry winter months, drying of the timber during the building process was deemed sufficient.
Materials and dimensions
The dimensions of the Lü Meimao were set according to state approved norms for wooden vessels of Zhejiang Province, dating from 1984. The total amount of timber used amounts to 280 cbm, hard-woods from South East Asia: 100 cbm Balao (or Borneo oak, Shorea spp.), 180 cbm Borneo Ironwood (Eusideroxylon Zwaegeri) for the hull. The masts are of Borneo Camphorwood (Dryobalanops aromatica).
Lü Meimao in harbour (Photo: Thomas Hoppe)
The masts are unstayed; the main mast consists of two pieces, held together by iron rings. The frames are 28 cm deep and 15 cm wide, the floor-timbers 40 cm deep and 18 cm wide, the keel is 40 cm wide and 42 cm high.
Hoisting the fore sail by hand; open bow, dimensions of the bulwark
(Photo: Li Zhonghua)
Each plank is approx. 40 cm x 7.8 cm in cross-section. The cross-sections of the three wales, which form a substantial part of the junk construction are 80 cm wide x 30 cm thick (upper wale), 45 cm x 18 cm (middle) and 15 x 45 cm (lower wale). Frames and floor-timbers basically make a flat bottomed U-shape. At the junction between frames and floor-timbers a bilge strake, 35 cm wide by 18 cm thick, is added. Inside the hull, three stringers are positioned in the upper, middle and lower part of the frames, each 30 cm wide, 12-13 cm thick. The junk has no keelson. Traditionally, smaller junks from Zhejiang were often built on warped plank keels. The "Lümeimao Zhujiajian" basically has a flushdeck, the deck behind the main mast with the cabin roof is elevated. But, the deck with the position of the helmsman is lower than the cabin roof. The main mast is 24.5 m long (68 cm max. diameter), the fore-mast is 17.5 m long (40 cm max. diameter) and the mizzen 11 m long (22 cm max. diameter). The mizzen is positioned on the starboard-side of the stern, not mid-ships.
Lü Meimao (Photo: Li Zhonghua)
The rudder shaft is 11 m long with a max. diameter of 32 cm. Upon entering the harbour, the rudder must be lifted by 8 men by means of blocks.
Hoisting the fore sail with the capstan; rope system of the sail: visible are only the ropes which come down from the lug gaff. (Photo Li Zhonghua)
The shaft and rudder, hanging in the blocks, move between 3 wooden gudgeons. When sailing the rudder reaches 1.5 m deeper than the lower keel-line. The rudder with its huge area of 5.8 m x 1.3 m is the main device of the flat-bottomed junk to avoid drift (see sail plan of Lü Meimao). The junk rig, the flat bottomed U-shaped hull form with its lateral area and the huge rudder area form a synergistic whole, which in this type of junk produces no or only minimal drift.
Engines, accomodation
At present, the Lü Meimao has a 6 cyl. Diesel engine of Chinese construction (Dongfeng, Shanghai) of 99.3 kW continuous power output which gives it a speed of 7 knots in calm waters. In addition, a 4-cyl. Diesel-generator with 35.2 kW is installed. The cabins, galley and rooms in the aft have air-conditioning. During the sea-trials, in which the author took part during July and August 2003, navigational equipment such as GPS, VHF and Radar were installed. The cabin for the 10 person of crew is without air-conditioning and positioned in the middle part of the hull, around the main mast. For the day-trip customers, two saloons are available, built in traditional Chinese style.
Rig and sails
The rig is a traditional Chinese junk rig, drawn according to tradition without any calculations concerning the distribution of the sail area over the hull length. The sails have the typical numerous hollows over the whole sail area. The sails were sewn by an old sail maker and his wife in Zhoushan, according to the dimensions of the masts, lug gaffs and bamboo battens prepared in advance. The sail cloth used is a thin synthetic material of brown colour. The sails were sewn by hand, spread out on the ground of the boat yard. The webs of sail-cloth run in straight vertical lines, sewn to each other. Ropes cross the web of cloth following the direction of the battens. These ropes connect the sail-cloth indirectly with the battens. Another system of ropes stitched to the sail cloth runs in an angle of approx. 90 degrees towards the battens starting from the lug gaff at the top, down to the lowest batten. These rope-systems, together with the leech and luff, make a fairly flexible texture, which forms the hollows typical for a traditional junk sail. A western sailor might feel unaccustomed to this variegated system of unevenness. The speed of the air flow is reduced and does not flow out of the sail as fast as possible. This contradicts the aerodynamic principles we are accustomed to.
The sheets reach only the ends of the battens, the overall profile produced by the interaction of wind, battens, mast, sheets and the rope system of the sail described above is different from a Western style gaff or lug sail (see drawing of the main sail profile under different angles of wind flowing in).
Overall profile of main sail under different angles of apparent wind. When pointing, the front part of the main sail easily flaps and the deepest point of the profile moves aft.
Sheet system of main sail.
The sail has the stability of an flexible airplane wing. It cannot flap over the whole area, but, only in the relatively small 'hollows', which create a form of camber. The main sail area is 228 m2, it is lifted by 5-6 men with the help of a mechanical capstan, which is also used for anchor lifting. The capstan is installed on mid-deck in front of the main mast. The main sail has nine battens. One part of the sheet touches one batten, four lower battens and five upper battens are joined together by blocks. The fore-sail has an area of 75 m2 and the mizzen an area of 25 m2. A kind of flying jib can be set between main-mast and fore-mast.
Main sail seen from the rudder (Photo: Thomas Hoppe)
Sailing performance
During a sea trial on August 1st 2003, in calm coastal waters under Bft. 4, the junk attained a maximum speed of 9 knots with apparent wind at 90 degrees to the keel-line, 7 knots with a quartering wind (120-140 degrees to the keel line), 3-4 knots downwind and 4-5 knots when sailing close hauled (40-50 degrees to the apparent wind). During an earlier sea trial the junk had made 3-4 knots under a light breeze of 2 Bft. with a quartering wind. When sailing high to the wind, supported by the engine, the junk could run up to ~30-35 degrees to the apparent wind making 7 knots. (These are conservative values extrapolated from GPS data, no speedometer was installed during the sea trials.) Tacking is extremely easy because only the rudder has to be turned. The junk is famous for its ease of reefing, because the lug-gaff only has to be lowered. The rudder, though very heavy, can be managed by one man under normal conditions, in the harbour or when maneuvering two or three men are necessary. Astonishing was the minimal, even unperceivable drift of the boat when saling close hauled. A junk with this form of sail cannot go as high against the wind as a modern Bermuda-rigged boat. But it compares positively with traditional gaff rigged vessels of the same size (Baltic traders), which the author has sailed on the Baltic Sea. On the open sea, it is not useful to go high against the wind and against waves or even currents at the same time. The howling part of the main-sheet produced very high tension, especially when sailing close hauled, and will have to be improved (see drawing of the main-sheet system as it was used during sea-trials). When sailing dead before the wind, there are no stays which hinder the movement of the lug gaff and the battens, so the sails can be slackened off 90 degrees to the keel line if necessary. There was no significant pressure on the rudder.
Three man working the rudder; sheet of main sail above their heads; rudder shaft
(Photo: Li Zhonghua)
In 2004/2005, several institutions/companies on the mainland were considering to build junks as sea-going vessels, for coastal yachting or for sailing e.g. on the lake near Kunming in Yunnan Province. Mainland institutions were even planning to build a second bigger junk of 61 m length to sail from the Yangtze Delta down into the Indian Ocean for the commemoration of Zheng He's travels. Because the Lü Meimao has up to now not obtained the administrative approval to sail with guests and as such cannot operate economically, all these plans have sufferd a set-back. During the same time an association in Taiwan was also planning to build a 20 m long junk to reenact Zheng Hes voyage into the Indian Ocean, the boat was supposed to be built in 2004 and set off in 2005, returning to China for the Olympics in Beijing 2008.
Principles of the junk design
Lü Meimao Zhujiajian has been designed and built in the tradition of a load carrying junk of the Lü Meimao type from Zhejiang. This type of junk has a larger beam and the depth in the hold is similar to European load carrying sailing ships. A complete drawing of a load carrying two-mast junk of the Zhejiang type, based on a Chinese model preserved in Rostock, Germany, has been published in Peter Wieg: Chinesische See-Dschunken, Bielefeld and Rostock, 1984 (Verlag Delius & Klasing/Hinstorff Verlag). This drawing shows traits very similar to the recently built Lümeimao Zhujiajian. The drawings discussed below are light displacement fishing junks with an extremely shallow depth in the hold. As the following drawings from Chinese fishing junks show, a junk can be a very elegant, and supposedly fast sailing vessel. The easiness in handling the sails has incited Western sailors to combine junk riggs with Western style keel boat hulls and to install sails following aerodynamic principles we are accustomed to. Such a combination of Western and Chinese elements, though useful, does not give the specific taste of the traditional junk and its design, which, as a whole, is characterized by the typical junk rig and sail on one hand, by the construction of the deep-going rudder and the often very shallow, flat bottomed and at times even slim hull (as is the case with the Qianhui design below).
The dimensions and lines of fishing junks reproduced here, were taken from representative working boats from the Fujian coast during 1958-59. At that time Russian and Chinese ship building engineers collected drawings of fishing boats to improve on the productivity, safety and speed standards of the Chinese fishing industry. Later, these drawings were published in book form. Both drawings are taken from Fujian sheng yuchuan tuji (Collection of Fishing Boat Drawings from Fujian Province) 1962, Fuzhou (Fujian Peoples Publishing House): Shaling, drawing Nr. 1: dimensions p.6, drawings pp. 23-24, comment p.15, and, Qianhui , drawing Nr. 15: dimensions. p.8, drawings pp. 51-52, comment p.16.
A) Shaling
2) Shaling—deck layout and timber plan (click image for details)
3) Shaling—Sail plan and main frame (click image for details)
timber dimensions in mm
4) Shaling—Lines (click image for details)
Basic dimensions of "Shaling"
| Length of the hull | 12.62 m |
| Waterline length (loaded) | 8.38 m |
| Beam | 2.98 m |
| Depth in the hold | 0.69 m |
| Draft (unloaded) | 0.40 m |
| Draft (max.) | 0.57 m |
| Displacement capacity | 5.85 tons |
| Mainsail area | 30.2 m2 |
| Fore-sail area | 10 m2 |
According to the Chinese comment to the drawing, this boat could operate safely up to Bft 5. The buoyancy producing hull is extremely shallow, the deck-beams are strongly vaulted, the overall lines are very harmonious. I have seen this boat as a model, it is in my eyes a very beautiful boat.
The Shaling has developed overhangs (2.2 m at the stern, 1.93 m at the bow). The length to beam ratio is 4.2 for the whole hull, and 3.1 for the waterline. Stability mainly derives from form stability. The rudder area is large, the rudder (caused by the inclined stern) points far under the hull, when completely lowered. The stem is sharp under the water-line, enlarged and flat above the water-line. The most effective part of the lateral area consists of the rudder area and the keel. The boat has a water-ballast room behind the fore-mast. The main mast is stabilized by a bulkhead from behind, a special timber connects the mast with the bulkhead in front of the mast, a thwart on deck gives additional stability. The fore-mast is supported by a bulk-head from behind and a thwart on deck. The boat has seven bulkheads. The stern is vaulted towards the inside and the rudder-shaft cuts inside the hull at mid-stern height. The vaulted deck-beams resulting in a whale-deck allow, in combination with the minimal freeboard, the water to flush on deck if the boat heels over. Shaling has a plane grating put over the primary, watertight deck. Working and walking on the vaulted whale deck would be too difficult. In comparison to the minimal hull depth, the bulwark is quite high, it is strongly built and constitutes an important constructive element.
A shallow shelter for the crew is available under the deck. Fujian has a short winter and sub-tropical climate, the crew basically lived on deck; usually a vaulted plaiting covered the deck behind the main mast and protected the crew from rain and sun.
Material dimensions of "Shaling" (in m)
| Keel | 0,12 x 0,17 (pine) |
| Planking | 0.05 (fir) |
| Floor-timbers and frames | 0,066 x 0,15 (camphor wood) |
| Wales (2) | 0,075 x 0,15 (fir) |
| Deck | 0.04 (fir) |
| Bulwark | 0.05 (fir) |
| Rail | 0.04 x0.12 (fir) |
| Main mast | 0.21 -- 0.135 m diameter, 9 m long |
| Fore-mast | 0.105 -- 0.078 m diameter, 6.48 m long |
| Rudder area | 1.98 m2 |
| Rudder shaft | diameter 0.12 m, |
| Length of shaft | 2.9 m, |
| Width of rudder | 0.9 m, |
| Thickness | 0.02 m |
Small flat bottomed two masted junk (1900-1915), in size similar to «Shaling»; see drawing of the frame form and typical closed Fujian bow in the upper right corner. Sheet system of mainsail. Scull to move the boat during dead calm or in harbour.
Source: L. Audemard, 1970, Les Jonques chinoises, Vol. IX (Côtes Est), Rotterdam, (Copyright Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
B) Qianhui
The second type of boat introduced here, the Qianhui, was used as a sailing trawler without engine. Two vessels of the same size used to operate together. The crew consisted of 10-12 men. The Qianhui used to fish in deep waters of the Taiwan-Strait (80-100 m of depth). The drawing originates from the area of Amoy (Xiamen) and neighboring Taiwan. The lines are extremely elegant. According to the Chinese text, this boat could fish safely up to Bft 7. The frames have a rounded V-shape, which in comparison to the Shaling type, gives more depth to the hull. The Chinese source describes this boat as very sea-worthy. The keel construction is not straight, but slightly bent, the sheer of the deck is very developed, it is a 'moon-sheered vessel'. Overhangs are very developed, 4 m at the stern, 2.75 m at the bow. The length to beam ratio of the hull is extreme ~ 4.8, even in the waterline it is still ~3.5. We can surmise that the boat carried a constant ballast of 6-8 tons (partly water).
5) Qianhui—Deck layout and timber plan (click image for details)
6) Qianhui—Sail Plan and Main Frame (click image for details)
7) Qianhui—Lines (click image for details)
Main dimensions of "Qianhui"
| Total length of hull | 19.8 m |
| LWL ( fully loaded) | 13.5 m |
| Beam | 4.15 m |
| Beam in the waterline | 3.82 m |
| Depth in the hold | 1.35 m |
| Draft (moulded) | 1,05 m |
| Draft (fully loaded) | 1.15 m |
| Displacement capacity | 31.43 tons |
| Freeboard | 0,26 m |
| Fore mast (fir), diameter | |
| rake (afore) | 0,17 m |
| 15° | |
| Main mast (fir) , diameter | 0,40 |
| Fore sail | 44,34 m2 |
| Main sail | 75,52 m2 |
| Rudder shaft | 4,35 m long |
| Rudder blade area | 3,80 m2 |
The rudder area is large. The most effective part of the lateral area consists, as in the case of the Shaling, of the keel, which is 0,26 m high, and the rudder area. The total sail area of ~ 120 m2 is sufficient in relationship to the displacement capacity of 31 tons, a European gaff-rigged boat of 30 tons displacement would have approximately the same working sail area. The hull itself is, as in the case of the Shaling, very shallow, draft is, compared to the length of the hull, minimal. To attain good speed and trawling power might have been an important factor in drawing this type of junk. A room to accommodate people is underneath the poop deck, a water ballast room before the main- mast.
The author of this article is sinologist and sailor, he has lived on Zhoushan island between January 1999 and March 2001, building (together with the Cen family) and sailing a North European sloop of 14.3 m length over deck. The first official sea trials of Lü Meimao took place in August 2003 in coastal waters near Zhoushan.
Contact: thomaria@yahoo.de
Address of the boatyard:
Mr. Cen Wuguo,
Cen Shi Muchuan Zuofang,
Luxicun, Pingyangpu,
Putuoqu, Zhoushan shi,
Zhejiang Province 316101
Peoples Republic of China
Fax: +86-580-309-2008.
See also the website of Lümeimao Zhujiajian: www.zhujiajian.com.