Trading with an Agent: Shippers, Carriers and Investors involved in the trade of Shinan ship
Dublin Core
Title
Trading with an Agent: Shippers, Carriers and Investors involved in the trade of Shinan ship
Description
In this paper, the archaeological materials salvaged from the Shinan shipwreck, a fourteenth century Chinese
mercantile ship that sank near Shinan islands of South Korea, will be analyzed through correlating the materials
found on the Shinan ship to the ancient export routes and manufacturing place of origins. In particular, the
locations of which the ship was found, as well as the potential trade routes it undertook, will be studied alongside
the items related to the export practices on the Shinan ship. The paper will start by referencing present recordings
related to the export location of Shinan archaeological relics recorded in various ways over the past 10 years,
such as the Shinan ship excavation report and the site drawings and catalogues of excavated archaeological
items. After aligning the reports, excavated items with relevant historical facts, the paper will proceed to the
analysis of the structure of the ship, of which the hull will be studied through three divided areas, spanning
through the structure of the hull and to the wooden log. Based on these standards, the paper argues that the
export points (i.e. locations of exporting of which the Sinan ship had passed by) can be studied by correlating the
quantity of various excavated materials found that are manufactured in those regions. The paper will also explore
the correlation between the results of such alignment and focus specifically on the export status and shipping
practices by analyzing the status of the wooden logs.
In terms of the overview of the Shinan ship area and its salvaged items, it is noted that many ceramic
relics were lifted from the site area in large quantities in all areas of the Sinan islands. Most salvaged artifacts
were mainly found in the center and stern of the hull. In addition, food items that appeared to be trade items were
being stored within brown glazed ware and earthenware. Meanwhile, many coins (A.D. 1~A.D. 14) and metal
tablets were found in the stern.
The paper recognized the above artifacts and is going to match these finds with the condition of the
wooden logs. For instance, almost all of the large-scale lifting of 'Gangsa (강사)' and 'Dongboksa (동복사)'
wooden logs were found in the stern. In the center of the hull, only the shipper's wooden log, which is generally
believed to have shipped small cargo, was found. Therefore, it is thought that large-scale shippers mainly
shipped coins and medicinal materials that were often stored at the stern, and small-scale shippers mainly
shipped ceramics and coins, of which the items were found at the center of the hull.
The paper will also mention that the trading export practice involved on the Shinan ship cargo would
have consisted of a person (captain and agent for shippers) on board at the Shinan ship, and a number of
investors who requested the purchase spaces offered in the cargo. The passengers would have been in charge of
purchasing and transporting the goods on behalf of a large number of investors. In addition, unlike Japan, which
consists of a large number of passengers and a large number of investors, the Yuan Dynasty side seems to have
been in charge of the purchase and transportation of products by a single subject called Gangsa. Therefore, it
seems that the instructor did not lease the ship for a price or simply take charge of navigation, but actively
participated in international trade with Kamakura.
mercantile ship that sank near Shinan islands of South Korea, will be analyzed through correlating the materials
found on the Shinan ship to the ancient export routes and manufacturing place of origins. In particular, the
locations of which the ship was found, as well as the potential trade routes it undertook, will be studied alongside
the items related to the export practices on the Shinan ship. The paper will start by referencing present recordings
related to the export location of Shinan archaeological relics recorded in various ways over the past 10 years,
such as the Shinan ship excavation report and the site drawings and catalogues of excavated archaeological
items. After aligning the reports, excavated items with relevant historical facts, the paper will proceed to the
analysis of the structure of the ship, of which the hull will be studied through three divided areas, spanning
through the structure of the hull and to the wooden log. Based on these standards, the paper argues that the
export points (i.e. locations of exporting of which the Sinan ship had passed by) can be studied by correlating the
quantity of various excavated materials found that are manufactured in those regions. The paper will also explore
the correlation between the results of such alignment and focus specifically on the export status and shipping
practices by analyzing the status of the wooden logs.
In terms of the overview of the Shinan ship area and its salvaged items, it is noted that many ceramic
relics were lifted from the site area in large quantities in all areas of the Sinan islands. Most salvaged artifacts
were mainly found in the center and stern of the hull. In addition, food items that appeared to be trade items were
being stored within brown glazed ware and earthenware. Meanwhile, many coins (A.D. 1~A.D. 14) and metal
tablets were found in the stern.
The paper recognized the above artifacts and is going to match these finds with the condition of the
wooden logs. For instance, almost all of the large-scale lifting of 'Gangsa (강사)' and 'Dongboksa (동복사)'
wooden logs were found in the stern. In the center of the hull, only the shipper's wooden log, which is generally
believed to have shipped small cargo, was found. Therefore, it is thought that large-scale shippers mainly
shipped coins and medicinal materials that were often stored at the stern, and small-scale shippers mainly
shipped ceramics and coins, of which the items were found at the center of the hull.
The paper will also mention that the trading export practice involved on the Shinan ship cargo would
have consisted of a person (captain and agent for shippers) on board at the Shinan ship, and a number of
investors who requested the purchase spaces offered in the cargo. The passengers would have been in charge of
purchasing and transporting the goods on behalf of a large number of investors. In addition, unlike Japan, which
consists of a large number of passengers and a large number of investors, the Yuan Dynasty side seems to have
been in charge of the purchase and transportation of products by a single subject called Gangsa. Therefore, it
seems that the instructor did not lease the ship for a price or simply take charge of navigation, but actively
participated in international trade with Kamakura.
Creator
Jinwook Jo
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Jo, Jinwook . 2023. “Trading with an Agent: Shippers, Carriers and Investors involved in the trade of Shinan ship.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, and T. Kurt Knoerl. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1983
Files
Citation
Jinwook Jo, “Trading with an Agent: Shippers, Carriers and Investors involved in the trade of Shinan ship,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed October 12, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/1983.