Cargo vessel; Junk, river

Scale: Unknown. A model of a Ma Yang Tzu, an Upper Yangtze river junk made entirely in wood with metal and organic material fittings. The hull is flat bottomed and turret built, with a narrow deck superimposed on it. The square bow terminates in a heavy projecting beam. The deck has a number of hatch covers that are removable. There are four cross beams, circular in section, that appear to brace the hull and are attached to the gunwales. There is provision for two masts. The foremast is positioned at the bow and has a single sail with dark blue and white vertical stripes. The main mast is positioned amidships and has an identical sail to that of the foremast, but larger. The cabin area occupies the entire rear half of the model, the roof of which is in three sections, all made from woven fibre. All three roof panels are curved and the aft panel slopes upwards towards the stern. The forward roof panel project outward slightly. The forward bulkhead has an open doorway and is decorated with a floral design with a Chinese character in the centre. The middle section of the cabin has fretwork windows decorated in red and green. The square stern has provision for a tiller. The rudder is flat at the waterline and is made up of three sections joined by two horizontal bars. The model is equipped with two oars, foremast, mainmast, foresail and a grapnel.

These craft may be over 30 metres in length, plying below Chungking and capable of carrying 100 tons down river and 80 up. A permanent crew of about 8 engages a further 60 men for the trip up river and 50 for the trip back down. 12 men are required at each of the 4 yulohs and 13 on the bow sweep on the downward trip, though 16 are required to work the latter on the way up as well as 50 on the tracking line. As many as 400 may be required on the tow rope to haul the craft over the rapids at Hsint'an. The tiller, which may be over 7 1/2 metres long requires three men to handle it in a difficult rapid.

Object Details

ID: AAE0154
Collection: Ship models
Type: Full hull model; Rigged model; Sails set
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: Before 1944; Unknown
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 586 x 585 x 150 mm
Parts: Cargo vessel; Junk, river