William Heering captured a moment in time. The South China Sea was full of trading junks that had not changed much in over a hundred years. Heering’s careful eye documented the shapes, colours and textures of a floating piece of history. Within 20 years, these vessels would all disappear. This publication represents a unique partnership between the photography work of a master with the words of a seasoned researcher. Stephen Davies does not only provide an accompaniment to the photography but provides a rich history of the science and technology of the vessels that Heering photographed.