Chinese Ocean-Going Fuchuan System

Timeline

1. 1405–1433Longjiang, Nanjing · JiangsuZheng He's fleet used large fuchuan ships as its mainstay, sailing from the Longjiang Treasure Ship Yard, demonstrating the Ming's mature technology in watertight bulkheads, multi-masted hard sails, and ocean navigation.
2. 1571–1580Yuegang · FujianAfter the Longqing relaxation of the maritime ban in 1567, Yuegang became a legal foreign trade port; the fuchuan system carried silk and porcelain trade to Luzon, Japan, and elsewhere, linking up with European galleon trade.
3. 1550–1570Zhoushan Archipelago · ZhejiangDuring the maritime ban, smuggled merchant ships and armed wokou still relied on the fuchuan type to operate in the East China Sea; Qi Jiguang and others conducted anti-wokou campaigns in this area, reflecting the continued existence of a civilian shipping system.