Junk
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A junk (船, Teochew: zung5; Malay and Javanese: djong) is a type of ship of Chinese design. Its most distinctive feature is its fully battened tanja sails, but it is also characterized by a flat-bottomed hull, an overhanging transom for a stern, and bulkheads, which are wooden partitions within the hull that create watertight compartments.[1]
From its inception during the Song dynasty (960–1279), the junk was already robust enough for long-distance ocean travel. Later European ships took inspiration from its superior hull and sail designs.[2]
History
In 1526, the Chinese Assassin Shao Jun came across several junks while navigating Macau's port to reach the stronghold of the Templar Gu Dayong, and boarded a few of them herself, scaling their masts to either survey the area or because all other paths ahead were blocked.[3] Most of these junks were later destroyed when the Templar Qiu Ju had Macau's port set ablaze in retaliation for Shao Jun's assassination of Gu Dayong.[4]
In 1725, a pirate band operating out of the Paracel Islands commandeered several junks, which they used to plunder European ships in the region. The pirates were eventually eliminated by the British Assassin Edward Kenway and the members of his Zhang Wei Union at the request of the Dutch East India Company.[5] The Union members then claimed the ships for themselves, including a large vessel they renamed the Fenghuang, which became the flagship of their fleet.[6]
That same year, the Chinese businesswoman Lee Huiyin was in command of a large fleet made up of mostly junks, including some which had previously belonged to her rival Sun.[7] Captained by Admiral Jeong, this fleet pursued the members of the Zhang Wei Union to the Philippines, where both factions searched for leads to a treasure allegedly located in the lost Khmer city in Angkor.[8]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple
References
- ↑ L. Pham, Charlotte Minh-Hà. (2012). Asian Shipbuilding Technology. Bangkok: UNESCO Bangkok Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-92-9223-413-3.
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Database: Chinese Junks
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – The Port
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Consequences
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 29
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 30
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 49
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 47