A Canton Trading Junk c. 1868

This image of a Canton Trading Junk was captured by John Thomson in the 19th century, using a photographic process. Observe the junk itself, a vessel adorned with battened sails. Sails like these are more than mere technology; they are a symbol of resilience and adaptability. We see echoes of this in ancient Egyptian boat imagery, where sails bear the souls of the dead towards the afterlife. The junk, a vehicle of commerce, is similar to Hermes, the psychopomp, guiding souls towards a new horizon. Consider how the motif of the vessel is a recurring symbol, a vessel for cultural exchange. It is a motif that survives to this day: our subconscious is wired for journeys, and this image touches something primal within us. Just as a shell carries the sea, a vessel carries an entire world. The journey continues; the vessel remains; its symbolic weight ever shifting.