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Asampan is a relatively flat-bottomed woodenboat found inEast,Southeast, andSouth Asia. It is possibly ofChinese orAustronesian origin.[1] Some sampans include a small shelter on board and may beused as a permanent habitation on inland waters. The design closely resembles Western hardchine boats like thescow orpunt. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers and are often used astraditional fishing boats. It is unusual for a sampan to sail far from land, as they do not have the means to survive rough weather.
It is sometimes claimed that the word "sampan" is derived from theCantonese termsāam báan (三板), literally "three planks",[2] but this is likely to be afalse etymology.[3] A possibleAustronesian origin of the word has been suggested, as it is attested in anOld Malay inscription from 684 CE.[1]
Sampans may be propelled by poles, oars (particularly a single, longstern sculling oar called ayuloh (simplified Chinese 摇橹/ traditional Chinese 搖櫓)[4]) or may be fitted with outboard motors.
Sampans are still in use by rural residents ofSoutheast Asia, particularly inMalaysia,Indonesia,Bangladesh,Myanmar,Sri Lanka andVietnam.
Malay communities in Southeast Asia also use the term sampan for their boats. Large boats such assampan panjang,kolek andperahu panjang are used and built by the Malays andOrang Laut living in their coastal villages.
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Another well-known word of possible Austronesian origin issampan, attested in a 684 CE old Malay inscription, which also appears in Tamil and Sri Lankan (as it does in Khmer, Thai, Burmese, Mon and Chinese).
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