Song Fuchuan and Shachuan

Timeline

1. 900–1127Fujian coast · FujianChinese shipbuilding in the Tang and Song periods commonly adopted watertight bulkhead structures, improving resistance to sinking and cargo hold management efficiency, laying the technical foundation for the large-scale use of fuchuan and shachuan in Southern Song overseas trade.
2. 1185Quanzhou and Guangzhou ports · QuanzhouIn the 1180s, ports with maritime trade offices such as Quanzhou and Guangzhou swarmed with merchant ships; fuchuan and shachuan carried porcelain, silk, and copper coins on long voyages to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, forming one of the world's most active maritime trade networks of the time.
3. 1271–1500Southeast China coast · Southeast coastFrom the Yuan to the Ming dynasty, the fuchuan form was further enlarged and standardized in large fleets such as Zheng He's voyages, while the shachuan continued to serve inland and coastal transport, together forming China's traditional sailing ship system.