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Jong (Javanese Ship)

Type Object Region Southeast Asia Time 800–1600

The jong was a large ocean-going sailing ship used in Java and Southeast Asian waters, known for multiple decks, high cargo capacity, and a sturdy hu…

Timeline

  1. 800–1000Srivijaya (Sumatra) · SumatraIn the 9th–10th centuries Srivijaya controlled trade in the Strait of Malacca; large Javanese-style sailing ships already carried spices and luxury goods, and reliefs at Borobudur and elsewhere depict contemporary navigation and ship fittings.
  2. 1200–1320East Java · JavaSinghasari and Majapahit kings valued their navies and overseas trade; jong construction techniques matured, with multi-layered hulls, rigging, and steering gear suited to monsoon ocean voyages, forming the core of the royal tribute-ship system.
  3. 1321–1330Majapahit (Trowulan) · East JavaIn the 1320s Majapahit jong fleets sailed between China, India, and Arab ports carrying cloves, nutmeg, and other spices and Javanese products; around 1345 Ibn Battuta personally saw four giant jongs, confirming the scale of trade in the preceding decade.
  4. 1400–1600Strait of Malacca · Strait of MalaccaAfter Portuguese and other European powers entered the Indian Ocean, traditional jong trade networks were disrupted; large Javanese sailing ships gradually gave way to armed merchantmen and colonial shipping systems, ending the jong's status as the region's main vessel type.

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