Junk is the history and pride of the Chinese fleet

Not everyone has heard the word "junk".But those who heard it for the first time are surely interested in what it means. Few people know that the junk is a traditional Chinese ship, having a number of significant differences from representatives of European shipbuilding. The difference is noticeable at first glance, and upon further study of this unusual ship.

Characteristic appearance

The main difference between junks from other ships isthat the stern of this vessel is rather wide and raised high. At the same time, the nose, which is almost rectangular in shape, is located rather low. Regardless of the destination, the traditional Chinese ship had a flat bottom. All this created a completely unusual appearance of the junks, which was effectively complemented by original sails and traditional drawings on the sides and stern. As a rule, there were depicted mountains and clouds, as well as dragons and other mythical creatures.

Благодаря такому большому количеству характерных Junk Damn is probably the most recognizable ship in the world and at the same time unique, since it has very little in common with the traditional European ships used in most countries. Nevertheless, there were many varieties of this ship - according to some, more than 300.

History

This is a traditional name.the American name comes from the Malay word djong, which is a distortion of the word yuzhnominskogo dialect, meaning "ship." In other words, the junk is a ship, which, in fact, it is.

Старинная легенда гласит о том, что первая судно This type was created by Heavenly Chinese Emperor Fu Hsi. He lived in the distant 29th century BC and was known for giving the inhabitants of the country the secret knowledge that contributed to the development of civilization. It is not surprising that the Chinese junk is revered by the peoples of the Far East and Southeast Asia as some kind of living creature with temper, character and charm. Nevertheless, some historians are inclined to believe that the first junks appeared about 1000 years before our era.

Although China is smaller than many others.countries was interested in exploring remote parts of the ocean, the first sea vessel appeared here. And it was junk. Its stability allowed to maneuver in open waters of any scale, but the speed remained quite small.

Unusual sails

For someone the most remarkable feature of junksis its unusual body, and someone first draws attention to the sails. Mast on such a ship, as a rule, from three to five. They are placed horizontal bamboo poles, which serve as holders of unusual sails. Their general appearance resembles a fan, both externally and according to the folding system.

At first, the sails were made of reed mats,which made them very heavy, so the junk was not suitable for fast swimming at that time. But there was no need for that either. But the strength of the material allowed the sails to withstand the gusts of even the strongest wind. Later, the mat was replaced with a cloth, which increased the speed and maneuverability of the vessel.

At the end of the XIII century, China visited the Venetianmerchant and traveler Marco Polo. He compiled a detailed description of the original Asian vessel and was simply amazed by the fact that on some of the junks, in addition to the four masts available, it was possible to install spare ones that would allow several more sails to be deployed.

Military junks

What is junk for the Chinese?Often it is a transport or merchant ship. Much less it was used for military purposes. Historians point out such an interesting fact: in the 16th-17th centuries, Portuguese, Dutch and Japanese pirates appeared at the Chinese coast. Instead of mobilizing troops and chasing them away, the Chinese turned to ancient treatises, giving recommendations for this case. Not finding the answer to your question, the people of China decided to leave it at that.

However, what is junk, if not a ship,perfect for military action? The stability of the vessel made it possible to install on it from 5 to 7 12-pounder guns and a special bulwark that protected from bullets and arrows. At the same time the crew size reached 200 people, and the displacement - 200 tons.

Japanese junks

Jocky, created in the land of the ascendantsun, somewhat different from the Chinese, including in appearance. First of all, the curvature of the sides and the high feed raised above the water, hanging over the steering wheel, stood out.

Unlike Chinese, Japanese junk isa ship with only one central mast, on which is a narrow rectangular sail. Another small mast sloped on the bow of the ship and probably could be removed if necessary. Another feature of the Japanese junk is that the beams - the beams that form the basis of the deck - protruded beyond the vessel, thereby increasing the usable space for cargo.

Modernity

Несмотря на то что джонка была изобретена больше 3 thousand years ago, it still remains relevant. The main reason is a perfect design that provides stability, capacity and maneuverability in shallow water. For many years, the old ship has practically not changed, even now it is still the same medieval junk. The photo clearly shows how there are few differences between the old and the modern ship.

Currently, some poor peopleareas of China are forced to live on junks, which is much cheaper than buying a home. The vessel provides food and shelter for fishermen, and is therefore a fairly popular place to stay. Owners of houses-junk prefer to settle on rivers near major cities. The population in such floating villages can reach up to 80 thousand people, such as, for example, in the city of Canton. In Hong Kong, there are also quite a few Chinese living on junks - about 12 thousand. In addition, currently junks are used to attract tourists.