Zhu Yu (author)

Zhu Yu was an author of the Chinese Song Dynasty . Between 1111 and 1117 AD, Zhu Yu wrote the book ''Pingzhou Ketan'' , and had it published in 1119 AD. It covered a wide variety of various subjects and issues in China at the time. His extensive knowledge of maritime engagements, technologies, and practices were owed to the fact that his father, Zhu Fu, was the Port Superintendent of Merchant Shipping for Guangzhou from 1094 until 1099 AD, whereupon he was elevated to the status of governor there and served in his office until 1102 AD.

Pingzhou Table Talks

In terms of global significance, Zhu Yu's book was the first book in history to mention the use of the mariner's magnetic-needle compass for navigation at sea. Although the compass needle was first described in detail by the Chinese scientist Shen Kuo in his ''Dream Pool Essays'' of 1088 AD, he did not specifically outline its use for navigation at sea. The passage from Zhu Yu's ''Pingzhou Ketan'' relating to the use of the compass states:


According to government regulations concerning seagoing ships, the larger ones can carry several hundred men, and the smaller ones may have more than a hundred men on board. One of the most important merchants is chosen to be Leader , another is Deputy Leader , and a third is Business Manager . The Superintendent of Merchant Shipping gives them an unofficially sealed red certificate permitting them to use the light bamboo for punishing their company when necessary. Should anyone die at sea, his property becomes forfeit to the government...The ship's pilots are acquainted with the configuration of the coasts; at night they steer by the stars, and in the day-time by the sun. In dark weather they look at the south-pointing needle . They also use a line a hundred feet long with a hook at the end which they let down to take samples of mud from the sea-bottom; by its smell they can determine their whereabouts.


Although Zhu began writing his book in 1111 AD, it referred to events concerning various seaports of China from the year 1086 onwards. Therefore, if a ship's hull was heavily damaged, only one compartment would fill with water while the ship could be salvaged without sinking. Zhu Yu wrote that ships springing a leak could hardly be repaired from the inside, though; instead the Chinese employed expert foreign divers that would dive into the water with chisels and oakum and mend the damage from the outside. Expert divers were written of by many Chinese authors, including Song Yingxing who wrote about that used watertight leather face masks attached with secured with tin rings that led up to the surface, allowing them to breathe underwater for long periods of time. Since at least the Tang Dynasty , the Chinese also had a formula for a waterproof cream applied to silk clothes that proved useful for divers.

Confirming Zhu Yu's writing on Song Dynasty ships with bulkhead hull compartments, in 1973 a 24 m long, 9 m wide Song Dynasty trade ship from circa 1277 AD was dredged from the water off the southern coast of China; this ship contained 12 bulkhead compartment rooms within its hull.