MALAY SHIPBUILDING: A RICH HISTORY

Is it true tha the Malays only received the new ships from Chinese Emperor, they did not build their own ships. Any evidence?

That is a common misconception, but historical and archaeological evidence actually tells a much more impressive story. While the Malay kingdoms certainly traded with China and received gifts from Emperors, they were prolific and sophisticated shipbuilders in their own right for centuries.

In fact, Southeast Asian naval technology was so advanced that it influenced many other cultures, including the Chinese.

1. The Evidence: Archaeological Finds

We don't just have stories; we have physical remains. Several shipwrecks prove that local builders used unique "Southeast Asian" construction techniques (like the sewn-plank and dowelled technique) long before heavy outside influence.

• The Pontian Ship (ca. 3rd–5th Century): Found in Pahang, Malaysia. This is one of the oldest examples of a "lashed-lug" vessel, proving locals were building sturdy, seafaring boats nearly 2,000 years ago.
• The Butuan Boats: Found in the Philippines (part of the wider Malay maritime world), dating back to the 4th century.
• The Phanom Surin Ship: A massive vessel found in Thailand showing the distinct "stitched" hull common to the region's early shipwrights.

2. Historical Records (The "Jong")

The most famous evidence comes from the accounts of early explorers and the Chinese themselves. The Jong (the origin of the word "Junk") was a massive Malay/Javanese sailing ship.

• Chinese Records: During the Song and Yuan dynasties, Chinese chroniclers described massive Southeast Asian ships called Kunlun Bo. They noted these ships were often larger than Chinese vessels at the time, sometimes carrying up to 1,000 people.
• Portuguese Accounts: When the Portuguese arrived in the 1500s, they were stunned. Duarte Barbosa and Tome Pires wrote about the Great Jongs of Malacca and Java, noting they were so thick-walled that Portuguese cannons couldn't easily pierce them.

3. Distinct Technology

Malay shipbuilders didn't just copy others; they had a specific "signature":

• No Nails: Early Malay ships used wooden dowels and fiber lashings rather than iron nails, which allowed the hull to be flexible in rough seas.
• Multiple Rudders: They often used twin lateral rudders (one on each side) long before the center-mounted rudder became global standard.
• Multiple Masts: They were using multiple masts and "tanja" sails (rectangular tilted sails) that allowed them to sail against the wind.

4. Why the Confusion?

The idea that they "only received ships" likely stems from the Tribute System. Malay Sultans would send envoys to China, and the Emperor would often gift luxury vessels or escort them back with Chinese fleets (like Zheng He’s). While these gifts were prestigious, they were a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands of locally built merchant and war vessels that dominated the Spice Trade.

Summary: The Malays were masters of the "Monsoon Trade." You can't control the world's busiest trade straits (Malacca) for a millennium without being a powerhouse in shipbuilding.

TYPES OF SHIPS USED BY THE MELAKA SULTANATE

The Malacca Sultanate (1400–1511) was a global trade hub, and its power relied entirely on its ability to protect the straits and transport massive amounts of cargo. They didn't just use one type of ship; they had a specialized "navy" ranging from massive cargo haulers to lightning-fast interceptors.

Here are the primary types of ships that defined the Malacca era:

1. The Jong (The Great Ship)

The Jong was the "super-tanker" of the 15th century. These were the vessels that carried spices from the Moluccas to Malacca and then to China or India.

• Size: They were massive, often reaching 50 to 80 meters in length.
• Construction: Built with multiple layers of planks (up to 4 layers thick) to withstand cannon fire. They were built without any iron nails, using wooden dowels instead.
• Capacity: A large Jong could carry 400–600 tons of cargo and hundreds of people.
• Significance: When the Portuguese commander Afonso de Albuquerque encountered a Malaccan Jong off the coast of Sumatra, he noted that his flagship's cannons were almost useless against its thick wooden hull.

2. The Lancaran

While the Jong was for heavy transport, the Lancaran was the versatile "workhorse" of the Malaccan fleet.

• Design: These were narrower, faster ships equipped with both sails and oars.
• Utility: They were used for both trade and war. Because they had oars, they could move even when there was no wind—a massive advantage in the calm waters of the Malay Archipelago.
• Defense: They usually carried meriam (bronze cannons) or lela (swivel guns) on their bows.

3. The Ghali (Gali)

As Malacca interacted more with Middle Eastern and (later) European traders, they developed the Ghali, which was a local adaptation of the Mediterranean Galley.

• Features: These were long, lean warships designed specifically for combat. They were heavily armed and relied on large crews of rowers to provide high-speed bursts during naval engagements.
• Tactics: The Sultanate used these to patrol the straits and enforce "passes" on foreign ships, ensuring that everyone paid their taxes at the Malacca port.

4. The Kelulus and Penjajap

These were the "special forces" vessels of the Sultan.

• Kelulus: A very fast, light rowing boat used for messaging and coastal raids. It was small enough to be pulled up onto a beach quickly.
• Penjajap: A fast maneuvering ship used by the Orang Laut (Sea People) who served the Sultan. They were designed to navigate shallow river mouths and hidden mangrove channels, making them perfect for ambushing pirates or invaders.

Summary Table of Malaccan Vessels

Ship Type	Primary Role	Propulsion	Notable Feature
Jong	Heavy Trade / Transport	Sails (Tanja)	Multi-layered hull, no iron nails.
Lancaran	Multi-purpose / Patrol	Sails & Oars	Fast and versatile.
Ghali	Naval Warfare	Oars & Sails	Heavily armed with bronze cannons.
Penjajap	Scouting / Ambush	Oars & Sails	Extremely fast; can navigate shallow water.

Why this matters

The existence of these specific designs proves that Malacca wasn't just "borrowing" technology. They were an entrepot—a place where Indian, Chinese, and Malay ship-building ideas merged to create some of the most advanced maritime technology of the pre-colonial era.

CHINESE RECORDS ABOUT MALAY SHIPS

Chinese records are actually some of the most reliable "eyewitness" accounts we have proving that the Malay/Southeast Asian people were independent, master shipbuilders. Far from just receiving gifts, the Chinese often relied on Malay ships to travel the world.

Here are the specific records and texts that mention these vessels:

1. Nan-chou I-wu Chih (Strange Things of the South) – 3rd Century CE

Written by Wan Chen during the Three Kingdoms period, this is one of the most famous records. It describes ships called Kunlun Bo (Ships of the Southern People).

• The Quote: He describes them as "the large ones are more than fifty meters in length and stand out of the water four to five meters... They carry from six to seven hundred persons, with 10,000 bushels of cargo."
• Why it matters: He explicitly notes that these ships were not Chinese. He explains their unique construction—that they used no iron nails and instead "bound the parts of the ship together with the fibrous bark of the coconut tree."

2. Yi-Chieh-Ching Yin-Yi (Pronunciation and Meaning of All Scriptures) – 8th/9th Century

Compiled by the monk Hui-lin, this text provides technical details about the ships used by travelers in the South Seas.

• The Description: It mentions that the po (large ships) were over 60 meters long and could carry 1,000 people.
• The Observation: It notes that the crews and technicians on these ships were "Kunlun people" (a term the Chinese used for Southeast Asians/Malays), proving the expertise belonged to the locals.

3. Ting-ping Yi-lan (Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era) – 10th Century

This encyclopedia cites earlier 3rd-century works by K’ang T’ai, a Chinese envoy.

• He records that Southeast Asian ships had seven sails and were capable of traveling as far as the Roman Empire (Syria). At that time, Chinese river-based ships were much smaller and typically used only one or two sails.

4. Ying-yai Sheng-lan (The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores) – 1416

Written by Ma Huan, the translator for Admiral Zheng He during his famous voyages to Malacca.

• The Observation: Ma Huan visited the Malay world and recorded the bustling ports of Malacca and Java. He described the local shipbuilding industry and noted that the local "Jongs" were used for massive trade.
• The Difference: He distinguished between the Chinese "Treasure Ships" and the local "Jongs," noting that the local ships were better suited for the specific winds and shallow reefs of the archipelago.

5. Sung Shih (History of the Song Dynasty)

These records detail the "Tribute Missions" from kingdoms like Srivijaya.

• While they mention gifts from the Emperor, they also record that the envoys arrived on their own ships, which were so large and sturdy that the Chinese officials were often impressed by their capacity to haul tons of aromatic woods and spices.

6. 2 Account during Wu Kingcom (190-280 CE):

1. Wushi Waiguo Zhuan : Account of Foreign Countries in the Wu Period. 
2. Nanzhou yiwu zhi : Record of Unusual Things from Southern Lands. 

Key Takeaway from these Records:

Feature	What the Chinese Records Say
Origin	Explicitly called "foreign ships" (po) or "ships of the Kunlun."
Fastening	Noted as "sewn" or "dowelled" (no iron nails), unlike Chinese ships.
Sails	Mentioned multiple masts (up to 7) and unique rectangular sails.
Size	Often described as larger and carrying more people than Chinese ships of the same era.

In short, the Chinese didn't just give ships to the Malays; for the first 1,000 years of their relationship, the Chinese were the ones paying for tickets to ride on Malay ships!

Google Gemini AI

13/2/2026: 11.25 a.m