As early as the Neolithic Age (about 10000-4000 years ago), our ancestors used canoes and rafts extensively, and went to the sea with their extraordinary courage and wisdom, laying the foundation for China's navigation. According to textual research, the first water vehicle that appeared before the invention of rafts and boats was invented by Baiyue people in southeast China in Neolithic age.
Shipbuilding Peak in Qin and Han Dynasties
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the development of shipbuilding industry in China reached its first peak. Qin Shihuang organized a huge fleet capable of transporting 500,000 stones of grain in the war to unify southern China. According to ancient books, Qin Shihuang once sent a general to lead a fleet to attack Chu. After the reunification of China, he made several large-scale cruises, either in inland rivers or by boat at sea.
Building biography in Han dynasty
By the Han dynasty, the navy with ships as the main force was already very strong. It is said that the central government of the Han Dynasty could dispatch more than 2,000 ships and 200,000 navies in just one battle. The fleet is equipped with all kinds of combat vessels, including the assault ship at the forefront of the fleet, the long and narrow warship Meng Chong used to attack enemy ships, the red horse as fast as a galloping horse, and the fully armed double-plank ship sill. Of course, building a ship is the most important ship and the main force of the navy. Shipbuilding is a famous ship type in Han Dynasty, and its construction and development is also a sign of superb shipbuilding technology.
Developed shipbuilding areas in the three countries.
The development of shipbuilding industry in Qin and Han dynasties laid a solid foundation for the progress of shipbuilding technology in later generations. Jiangdong, where Sun Wu lived during the Three Kingdoms period, was historically the land of wuyue where shipbuilding was developed. The largest warship made by the State of Wu has five floors and can carry 3000 soldiers. When Wu, who was good at shipbuilding, perished, the rulers seized more than 5,000 official ships, which shows the prosperity of shipbuilding industry. By the Southern Dynasties, Jiangnan had developed into a 65,438+10,000-ton ship. Zu Chongzhi (AD 429 -500), a great scientist in Southern Qi Dynasty, built a thousand-mile ship and tried it in Xinting River, sailing more than 100 miles a day (Volume 52 of the Book of Southern Qi Dynasty). It is a kind of boat with paddle wheels, which is called vehicle and boat. This kind of boat is propelled by people pedaling wheels. Although it is not as good as using natural forces to sail the economy, it is also a great invention, which provides a new idea for improving the ship's power and occupies an important position in the history of shipbuilding.
The peak of shipbuilding in Tang and Song Dynasties
The Tang and Song Dynasties were the second peak in the history of ancient shipbuilding in China. The development of China's ancient shipbuilding industry has since entered a mature stage. Shipbuilding technologies such as stern rudder, efficient propeller and effective use of sails appeared in Qin and Han dynasties, which were fully developed and further improved during this period and created many more advanced shipbuilding technologies. The Sui Dynasty was the beginning of this period. Although the time is not long, the shipbuilding industry is very developed, and even a very large dragon boat has been built. The dragon boat in Sui Dynasty adopted the methods of tenon joint and nail joint. The connection with iron nails is much stronger than that with wooden nails and bamboo nails. This advanced method has been widely used in the Sui Dynasty.
During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the quantity and quality of ships reflected the high development of shipbuilding industry in China. Specifically, the characteristics and changes of shipbuilding industry in this period.
Dalongzhou
In 640 AD, Emperor Yangdi Yang Guang ordered officials to supervise the construction of dozens of dragon boats and miscellaneous boats in order to visit Yangzhou. Yang Guang's big dragon boat is 45 feet high and 200 feet long. Upstairs are the main hall, the inner hall and the east and west halls. The middle floor 120 rooms are all decorated with golden jade, and there are nine dragon boats on the third floor.
The big dragon boat is several stories high, and the hull needs a lot of big wood. The length of wood is limited, which requires connecting many smaller and shorter pieces of wood. At the same time, the connection technology between hull skeleton and plate, hull and superstructure is very demanding. If the connection is not good, it will be unstable, so the connection is extremely important in the structural strength of the dragon boat. The connection mode of the dragon boat in Sui Dynasty was tenon connection. Connecting with nails is much stronger than connecting with wooden nails and bamboo nails. This advanced method has been widely used in the Sui Dynasty.
Zhenghe treasure ship
The main ship of Zheng He's voyage to the West is called Treasure Ship, which is an excellent ship type suitable for ocean navigation in ancient China. It is as high as a building, wide at the bottom, high at the head and tail, with guard plates on both sides, and the cabin is watertight. It is the most advanced seagoing ship sailing in the South China Sea and the Western Ocean, and it is also the largest wooden sailboat in the ancient world.