Southeast Asian Junk Trade

Timeline

1. c. 1000–1279Southeast China coast and Champa ports · Southeast coastThe Song maritime trade system and Yuan overseas trade expansion promoted regular junk operation on East Asia–Southeast Asia routes, with hull structure and compartment technology gradually maturing.
2. c. 1300–1400Ports of northern Java and the Gulf of Siam · SiamAround the 1310s, junks transshipped spices, ceramics, and metals between ports such as Majapahit, Sukhothai, and Champa, forming a multi-centered, segmented maritime trade model.
3. c. 1400–1600Strait of Malacca and Southeast Asian archipelago · Strait of MalaccaAfter Ming maritime prohibition and Zheng He's voyages, junk trade adjusted its routes amid the coexistence of official control and private smuggling, with Malacca becoming a more important transshipment node.