Block model of a Chinese junk (Fuzhou) - ‘huabigu’, ‘Foochow pole junk’
Description
Ship model of a ‘huabigu’, usually termed as ‘Foochow pole junk’. Such ships transported wood for shipbuilding and furniture works from the province of Fujian (Fukien) along the entire Chinese coastline, yet mainly to Shanghai and the Chang Jiang valley. They were solid and very well manoeuvrable ships which can be rated among the most spectacular of Chinese ships on the basis of their lovely lines and colourful transom decoration. Smaller wood was stowed in the holds, larger tree trunks were stacked on deck, while the largest ones were fixed to both sides of the ship with bamboo straps which continued underneath the ship and were attached to the mainmast. Loaded in such a way, the ship’s appearance was very much like compact driftwood bulk. They made only 5 to 6 trips a year, between June and September, taking advantage of the south-eastern monsoon winds in such a way that these winds carried the ships to the north.
Excavated block model with strengthening ribs and transverse bulkheads. Lean forebody, upwards ending in trapezoid tuck. Flaring stern. Rudder well with horseshoe-shaped flat transom and raking stern. Flaring board with heavy wale. Forebody with two wings, bulwark with port, rising in steps up to the stern. Forebody with countersunk fore cuddy board. Up to the foremast flush deck with windlass and mast hatch for the mainmast, with ladder and hatch cover. Behind, companion with open front. On the companion, a windlass for the tackle of a liftable drop rudder. Two catheads and a gallows on the forebody. On the quarter deck a gallows for the main sail. At the stern two boat davits. Three masts with spreaders and cotton cloth standing lugs. Jigger mast with jack boom. Colourful, exuberant transom painting. Oculus on forebody. Vane with broom.
