Junk - junk (English spelling)

A general term for sailing ships that have been widely used in Chinese waters for thousands of years. It is said to have originated from the Chinese word "chuan" (ship), which became the Indonesian word "djong" (jung), and then the English word "junk". In Chinese, it is written as "rongke". There are many types depending on the region, but a common structural feature is that the interior of the ship is divided by numerous watertight transverse bulkheads, which are said to have been inspired by bamboo joints. This gives the ship great lateral strength, and it will not sink even if one part of it is damaged and flooded. They are broadly divided into river ships (inner river rongke, inner river people's ship) and ocean-going ships (haishu). River ships have flat bottoms and shallow drafts, and are more focused on rowing than sailing, such as the hemp straw ship, the noodle ship, and the snake ship in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. They range in size from 1 to 2 tons, with the largest being around 100 tons. However, those used in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River can also go out to the open sea, and are classified as intermediate coastal junks. These include Yellow River junks, Taigu fishing boats, and Wenzhou fishing boats. Ocean-going ships are divided into northern and southern types, with the Andong trading ship in the north having a flat bottom and shallow draft. The Fujian trading ship in the south is considered the best ocean-going junk, characterized by strong vertical members such as the keel and thick shipboard planks. Most ocean-going ships are around 50 to 200 tons in size, but some are around 300 tons.

The appearance is a square bow, a high stern, and two or three masts. The sails are vertical sails with many horizontal battens, and are folded in an accordion style. The rudder is very large, and can be put deep underwater in the open sea, and also serves as the centerboard of a yacht.

[Torao Shigezai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国水域で数千年にわたって広く使われてきた帆船の総称。中国語の船chuanからインドネシア語ジョングdjongになり、さらに英語のjunkになったといわれる。中国では戎克と書く。地方によって種類が多いが、構造上の共通の特徴は、船内が、竹の節からの着想と伝えられる多数の水密横隔壁で区画されていることである。このため船体の横強力が大きく、一部が破損浸水しても沈没することがない。河川用（内河戎克、内河民船）と航洋船（海舟）に大別される。河川用は平底で喫水が浅く、揚子江(ようすこう)上流の麻秧子(まおうし)、麺粉(めんふん)船、蛇(じゃ)船など、帆走より漕(こ)ぐほうに重点が置かれている。大きさは1～2トンから、大きくても100トン程度である。しかし、揚子江や黄河の下流で使用されるものは外洋にも出ることがあり、中間的な沿岸ジャンクに分類される。黄河ジャンク、太沽(タークー)漁船、温州(うんしゅう)漁船などがある。航洋船には北方型、南方型の別があり、北の安東(アントン)貿易船などは平底・浅喫水である。南の福建貿易船は最上の航洋型ジャンクとされ、竜骨や舷側(げんそく)厚板などの縦強力材があるのが特徴である。航洋船の大きさは50～200トンぐらいのものが多いが、300トン前後のものもみられる。

　外観は角型船首、高船尾で、2本か3本のマストをもっている。帆は水平バッテン（横桟）が何本もある縦帆で、蛇腹式に畳む。舵(かじ)はきわめて大きく、外洋では深く水中に入れ、ヨットのセンターボードの役も果たす。

［茂在寅男］

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