AS.1935.048.039

Block model of a Chinese junk (upper Chang Jiang) - snake boat, ‘shechuan’

According to Worcester (1940) (p. 56) the attribution is doubtful. Possibly a badly made model of the ‘shechuan’ or snake boat of the Guantan River, 60 miles below Chongqing, though the latter had a steering oar instead of a rudder. Excavated block model. Flat bottom. Narrowing fore and aft swim head, aft rising high and fore raking. Short fore cuddy board having a well for a mud anchor, behind it a waist. Behind the mast beam a bulkhead with sliding doors. The hold is closed off up to the higher transverse bulkhead with sliding doors and covered over with three roofs in bamboo matting. Behind it a closed superstructure, a waist and a well for the rudderpost. Angular drop rudder. Mast with rectangular, cotton cloth sail. Mud anchor.

wood (plant material), bamboo (material), metal