40 replies to this topic

[hansioux]

These ships are very beautiful.

[Gubook Janggoon]

Like I said at AE, awe-inspiring.

[stupidumboy]

Its very amazing that Ming dynasty had shipmaking technology to produce 150 meters long Junk ships -it can be matched to the 8,000 tons ships today.

They produced over 250' numbers of 8,000 tons ships in 15 C.
(about 2,000,000 tons weighs)
Even modern days -its not easy plan considering the fact that British empire's total ship amount in 18 C weighted about 750,000 tons.

I have to show my great respectation not only to their technology but also their challenging mind to direct that huge plan.

[hansioux]

One thing that I noticed is that the sail masks often comes in odd numbers. Like Zheng He's ships has either 3 or 5.

Why is that?

[snowybeagle]

One thing that I noticed is that the sail masks often comes in odd numbers.  Like Zheng He's ships has either 3 or 5.

Why is that?

Perhaps one mast must always be located at the centre. Having uneven number of masts between centre and stern and between centre and bow does not seem to balance the ship.

[hansioux]

Perhaps one mast must always be located at the centre. Having uneven number of masts between centre and stern and between centre and bow does not seem to balance the ship.

That could be it! Thanks. I suppose when storm comes, even if even numbers of masts are placed evenly, when knocked out of the center of gravity, it just creates mre torque.

[stupidumboy]

I think we need to look back the southern soong period -the Ming's decent technology for shipbuilding and voyage can find its origin from the southern soong,

Marcopolo was surprised by the big size of the ship in hangzhou
The technology of direction rudder and compass for voyage were develpoed by Soong (宋) first time in the world.

Ming can develpoed soong's inherited technology and they were able to used more resources for the plan.

[Grigori]

Some other images:

[Richard]

I have been searching the net for info, book titles and photos of the Zheng Ho fleet and all of the various types of ships it contained and found a variety of different interpretations, including those on this thread. Fascinating! However, I have yet to find the sources or documentation for these different interpretations and models.

Who are the leading scholars or historians who are investigating the structure of the Zheng He ships and how can I contact them? Unfortunately, I do not speak Chinese.

Thanks for your help,

Richard

Edited by Richard, 22 February 2007 - 09:38 AM.

[seamonk]

Hi all, I newbie seamonk here would like to look for 1 Zheng He main fleet wooden ship model, anyone know any place or website selling it? Thx a lot.

[Liang Jieming]

[seamonk]

Hi Bro Liang Jieming, me also M'sian and working in S'pore now.

Where U got those Zheng He ship model pic from, is really awesome, pretty, wonderful man..... Do U know anywhere in SG selling those ship model?

Btw, care to intro urself a bit?

[naruwan]

wow the size of those models, i guess i should have said i wish i can get one in my pool...

[seamonk]

Ya men, dunno where can I got chance to see those ships, it look so beautiful, I only happen to saw 1 in KL, but the workmanship not so good, but the whole ship just look cool compare to others ship that he have in the shop.

[Liang Jieming]

Hi seamonk,

I took pictures of those from the Zhenghe 1421 exhibit when it was here a few months back. You can still see the Maritime exhibit at the National Library at Bras Basah if you like. They have some of the same models there on the 10? floor, and a large Baochuan at the entrance foyer.

Which part of M'sia are your from?