Foochow's Flowery Designs on Junks : Hua Pi Gu

Model Fujian junk

The Chinese junks delivering Fujian timber along the coast of China were the ancient and magnificent 花 屁 股 “hua pi gu” (“Foochow Pole junk”), estimated to be unchanged in design since the 14th century. Hua pi gu means “flower’s buttocks”, presumably a reference to the decorative stern.

Fujian province is well known for its forests - Fuzhou is the capital. The most widely used woods were the “Sha-mu” (Fujian fir), a softwood, and the “Sung-mu” (Fujian pine) which was used for furniture and junks.

These junks were large and seaworthy, up to 55 metres. Historians said that the inspiration for this junk was a monstrous fish. The eyes may be of Arab origin : the eye of the Egyptian Osiris.

The junks also have other symbols on board : the Taoist symbol of Tai Chi , the Yen Bird, the words Yong Li Shun meaning permanent success or prosperity, the 8 Immortals, two large medallions, and often a crane and a stag.

This kind of junk would have 20 or 30 crew.

The most famous Hua Pi Gu “Keying” voyaged between Hong Kong - London in 1848; “Whangho” Hong Kong – Sydney 1908; “Ningpo” Shanghai – San Francisco 1912.

Ref: 

1. Works from G.R.G. Worcester, Ivon A. Donnelly, Louis Audemard and Valentin A. Sokoloff. 

2. Science Museum, London in the Sir Frederic Maze Collection. (Worcester stated that in 1940’s there were only ten of these magnificent junks afloat in China, one claimed to be more than 150 years old.)