A Study on The Hull Form Porperty and Comparison of Korea.China Ancient Ship

  • Published : 1997.10.01

Abstract

Hull forms of ancient ships in Korea and China have been changed according to their voyages and routes. Therefore it is necessary for shipbuilding engineers to reestablish the ancient shipbuilding history, and to presume, restore and revive the lost cultural inheritances. We, however, do not have many historical documents or credible materials that can our ancestors' great shipbuilding techniques : at the same time we do not have paid much attention to the research on such documents and materials. This paper aims not only to study and compare shifting process of ancient ship's hull forms in Korea and China by making use of verifiable materials obtained in the process of excavating and restoring Shinan ancient ship. The results of comparing structural characteristics and hull forms of ancient ships in Korea and China and as follwing : (1) Korean ancient ships have transverse beam instead of frame . Judged from the bottomform, Korean ancient ships are grooved clinker type ships of flat bottom type, in which bottom planking is fixed by wooden bar. (2) Chinese ancient ships have transverse bulkhead structure instead of frame, Judged from the bottom form , Chinese ancient ships are rabetted clinker type ships of V-bottom type with a bar keel. The form , the position, and the size of a sail are closely related with the wind force. It is not only quite difficult to presume forms and sizes of ancient ships' sails precisely, but also impossible to come to an accurate conclusion wihtout much experience. Current 10-year-statistics of the wind force are used to obtain presumed routes of ancient ships in Korea and China. Conclusions obtained from the hull form , sail form and size , and mast height of Shinan ancient ship will provide credible data for sea trade routes and transformation capability, and wil be used for effective materials on the study of the shifting process of ancient ships in Korea and China.

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