Fortheseships,thedamp-resistantporcelaingoodsweretheperfectmerchandisetobeshippedacrosstheoceans.Theywereplacedatthebottomoftheship'sholdwithsilkandteaontop.Thiskindofcommercialactivitywasextremelylucrative,andnotonlymadetheeconomyboom,butalsoinducedculturalcommunicationandfriendlyrelationsbetweentheEastandtheWest.