These boats used lightweight wood construction, had flat bottoms, and masts made with bamboo slats. While Thailand saw its first junk boat much later, China was already using them since the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). Though today, the Chinese junk boats are famous for their bamboo-incorporated battened sails, the earliest sails boasted woven grass dipped in tannins for sturdiness. It resulted in the reddish-brown hue, which was later seen on the canvas masts. The crimson masts seen in Victoria Harbour still bear the same historical hallmark. More masts were added to the junk ships during the Song Dynasty (950-1276), and they became a part of the Chinese navy during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). It was also the era of the legendary seafarer, Admiral Zheng He, who voyaged with Ming navy across India, Arabia, and even to Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. It led to an expansion of trade. Diplomatic ties with foreigners were being established – all while sailing through the oceans in the largest nine-mast, 400 ft long and 150 ft wide Chinese junk. Although the successor, Hongxi Emperor, canceled maritime expeditions and burnt the fleet, Chinese shipbuilding techniques were preserved. Fishermen and pirates in the South of China kept sailing and navigating the world.
Jungceylon, or present-day Phuket, witnessed its first junk boat when the Chinese arrived on the island for trade during the 13th century. The incident was so influential that by the time Portuguese explorer, Fernão Mendes Pinto, arrived in Siam in 1545, the island was already being referred to as Junk Ceylon. It was because the place was a bustling destination where merchant ships made regular stops for provisions and supplies. Even today, tourists from around the world, who visit Thailand, get a glimpse of this historical legacy by sailing in a vintage Chinese junk. House of Fragrance is one such opportunity. In Chinese, the protagonist’s junk boat is named “Xiang Xie”, in which Xiang translates to fragrance and Xie to pavilion, or so called house. This, again, acts as a muse to this vintage cruise in Phuket.
This elegant junk cruise in Phuket takes inspiration from the Chinese movie, Chu Liuxiang. The movie itself is an adaption of the namesake wuxia novel series by a Taiwanese author, Gu Long. The story surrounds the protagonist Chu Liuxiang, one of the best Qing gong martial artists in Jianghu, who steals from the rich to help the poor. He lives on a junk boat, called “Xiang’s Pavilion” with three young women. The name, Liuxiang, literally translates to lingering fragrance, thus inspired by his story, this Phuket cruise is called the House of Fragrance. According to the legend, the man excels at the art of disguise and maintaining countenance. He is a person of compassion and kindness. And yet, while some revere him, others hate him to the bones. Myths and mysteries surround Liuxiang. Some believe he is immortal, can fly to the sky, and escape into the earth. Others say he had ten million embodiments! House of Fragrance takes a piece of Liuxiang’s personality to become just as enigmatic and exhilarating. Nothing could prepare you for the unique experience of sailing in it. You will need to hop off the harbor and into this restored Chinese junk.
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