明朝初年鄭和等宦官帶領多次遠航的技術層次與內涵究竟為何，是個缺乏資料而爭論百年未解的問題。其中最受注目的的是中式帆船的性能及航行技術。本文回顧過去對中式帆船的研究與實證，包括十九世紀以後對各種船型的外觀與使用方式之描述、製造方式之概要、橫渡大洋的實船，以及對現存船型與帆的性能模擬與計算；然而我們發現極少以現代的科學或工程方式研究實船或模型。未來對中式帆船的研究不僅應以模型實驗或電腦模擬研究性能，更應針對實船的建造技術以實驗考古學的方式測試各種古代工法、工具與重要裝備及船體的性能。

The technical detail and level of the voyages led by Cheng Ho and eunuchs in the early Ming dynasty is still an unsolved puzzle with very limited data and has generated controversies, the most conspicuous of which is on Chinese junks' performance and navigation techniques. This article reviews past research on and evidence of various types of Chinese junks' performance, including (a) description of their features and outlook since 19th century, (b) summary of manufacturing methods, (c) ocean crossing vessels, and (d) current simulation/computation of the sails' and hulls' performance. However, it was found that few studies adopted modern scientific and engineering knowledge and methodology to examine real junks or models. It is then suggested that future research on Chinese junks should not only use the model experiments and computer simulation to investigate their performance but also apply experimental archaeology methodology, especially in the field of construction technology of real ships to test ancient tools, techniques, equipments, and hulls' performance.