Shining Moon

Introduction

Shining Moon is a small Chinese sailing junk.  

Description

Shining Moon is described as a "baby" junk with a raised forepeak and a high poop. She was steered by a tiller and had three masts, each carrying a single sail. A characteristic feature of Chinese junk sails was the use of battens to divide the sail horizontally. Together with the use of sheets attached to each batten, these battens allowed for a high degree of control, giving the junk the ability to sail well in varying wind conditions. Junks can also sail very efficiently against the wind.

We are not told a great deal about Shining Moon's internal arrangements, other than that she had cabins under the foredeck and poop, and that these opened out onto a well amidships. It is likely that there was more living and storage space in the main hull: in traditional junk design the hull was often divided into compartments accessed by separate hatches from the deck above, this helped to strengthen the hull and provided increased buoyancy. 

In Missee Lee, Nancy expresses surprise when she realises that Shining Moon does not have a binnacle. However, as Missee Lee explains, Shining Moon was never designed to voyage far from the Three Islands where she was buit - unlike larger Chinese junks, many of which were undertaking ocean voyages from the 2nd century AD.

Ownership

Shining Moon is Missee Lee's personal property, effectively her "yacht". 

Shining Moon appears in
Missee Lee.

Factual Inspiration

In 1927 Ransome spent time in China as correspondant for the Manchester Guardian and Baltimore Sun. During that period he would have had ample opportunity to study local junks on the Yangtse River and along the Chinese coast. There is, however, no known single inspiration for the Shining Moon. 

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