Scale Model of a Chinese Junk. Scale model of a Chinese junk with detailed wood body, string rigging, red fabric sails.

Size: 44 x 12 1/2 x 39 in.

Chinese junks are traditional sailing vessels that originated as early as the Han Dynasty and became the backbone of maritime trade and naval power in China for centuries. Distinguished by their flat-bottomed hulls, high sterns, and battened sails made of bamboo-reinforced cloth, junks were remarkably sturdy and maneuverable, capable of river, coastal, and even deep-sea voyages. Their design often included watertight bulkheads, an innovation that enhanced safety and resilience on long journeys, influencing shipbuilding worldwide. Used for commerce, fishing, and military expeditions, junks carried goods across the South China Sea and along the Silk Road’s maritime routes, making them symbols of China’s seafaring ingenuity and global connections.

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