''Dougong'' ( Chinese: 斗拱;

pinyin Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...

: ''dǒugǒng''; lit. 'cap ndblock') is a structural element of interlocking wooden

brackets A bracket is either of two tall fore- or back-facing punctuation marks commonly used to isolate a segment of text or data from its surroundings. They come in four main pairs of shapes, as given in the box to the right, which also gives their n ...

, important in traditional

Chinese architecture Chinese architecture () is the embodiment of an architectural style that has developed over millennia in China and has influenced architecture throughout East Asia. Since its emergence during the early ancient era, the structural principles of ...

for both its structural capacities and cultural implications. The use of ''dougong'' first appeared in buildings of the late centuries BCE, with its earliest renditions emerging during the

Western Zhou The Western Zhou ( zh, c=西周, p=Xīzhōu; 771 BC) was a period of Chinese history corresponding roughly to the first half of the Zhou dynasty. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty at the Battle of Muye and ended in 77 ...

Dynasty, evolving over the centuries into a structural network which joined pillars and columns to the frame of the roof. ''Dougong'' were widely used by the ancient Chinese during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE) and developed into a complex set of interlocking parts by its peak in the Tang and

Song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...

periods. The pieces are fitted together by joinery alone without glue or fasteners, requiring precise carpentry. After the Song dynasty, brackets and bracket sets used in palatial structures and important religious buildings became more ornamental than structural, moving away from the description of traditional ''dougong.''

Function

''Dougong'' is part of the network of wooden supports essential to the timber-frame structure of traditional Chinese building. ''Dougong'' serve as a connection between the vertical columns and horizontal beams of a structure, capturing the weight of a larger surface area of each beam and transferring it vertically through the column. It is characterized by layers of interlocking bracket sets, formed by placing a large wooden block (''dou'') on a column to provide a base for the bow-shaped brackets (''gong'') which in turn support either the horizontal structural beam or another bracket above. The wooden joinery is one of the earliest examples of modern mortise and tenon joints, using precisely cut notches and grooves to allow for a tight fit. This process can be repeated many times, and rise many stories, each layer of ''dougong'' joinery providing a broader, and more stable surface area for the beam. Adding multiple sets of interlocking brackets reduces the amount of strain on the horizontal beams, creates elasticity, and allows structures to withstand damage from earthquakes. During the early Tang and

dynasties (618-1297), ''dougong'' was used primarily as a weight-bearing structural element. Walls, in much of traditional Chinese Architecture of the time, functioned to delineate spaces within the structure rather than to support its weight. Since often the walls in these structures were not load-bearing (curtain walls), made of

latticework __NOTOC__ Latticework is an openwork framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of strips of building material, typically wood or metal. The design is created by crossing the strips to form a grid or weave. Latticework may be functional &nd ...

, mud, or other delicate material, the integrity of external load bearing features, such as the ''dougong,'' were critical to the structure's integrity.

Development and cultural implications

As ''dougong'' developed throughout Chinese dynasties, so too did its ornamentation and cultural importance. From its initial emergence, joinery systems resembling ''dougong'' displayed neither ornamentation nor fixed norms or systems in their construction. Over the next several centuries, and with the increasing importance of

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

, more emphasis was placed on decorative elements in wooden joinery, and these initial systems began to take on a more consistent form. It wasn't until the late

Song Dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...

, a time of economic prosperity in much of China, that ''dougong'' began to take on its rich decorative characteristics. During the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

, (1368–1644) innovation brought about the invention of new wooden components that aided ''dougong'' in supporting the roof. This allowed ''dougong'' to add a decorative element to buildings, exemplifying the traditional Chinese integration of artistry and function. Bracket sets became smaller and more numerous, and brackets could be hung under eaves, giving the appearance of graceful baskets of flowers while continuing to support the roof. The Bao'en Temple in

Sichuan Sichuan is a province in Southwestern China, occupying the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau—between the Jinsha River to the west, the Daba Mountains to the north, and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to the south. Its capital city is Cheng ...

is a good example of the Ming style. It has forty-eight types and 2,200 sets of ''dougong'' to support and ornament it. It is a well-preserved fifteenth century monastery complex located in northwestern Sichuan province,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. It was built by Wang Xi, a local chieftain, between 1440 and 1446 during Emperor Yingzong's reign (1427–64). Throughout this development, ''dougong'' came to represent cultural hierarchy and identity. For a time, the use of ''dougong'' was banned from public use, and as a result became a representation of the upper & ruling classes. Some of the most studied ''dougong'' are found in the

Forbidden City The Forbidden City () is the Chinese Empire, imperial Chinese palace, palace complex in the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City in Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming dynasty, Ming and Qing dynasty, Qing dynasty L ...

, representing the height of imperial power.

Earthquake resistance

Modern research has increasingly shown ''dougong's'' importance in resisting the destructive capabilities of earthquakes. Each element of the ''dougong'' system is fastened without the use of static fasteners such as bolts, pins, screws, or nails. Each bracket in the ''dougong'' system is held together by the friction fit of each joint and the compressive weight of the vertical load. Each column, in addition, is supported without the use of fasteners often by cornerstones or other stone mounting features. The capacity for seismic resistance in ''dougong'' joints and systems comes primarily from their ability to dissipate energy between column and beam through friction, compression deflection, rotary deformation, and extrusion. In essence, the dynamic nature of ''dougong's construction'' dissipates seismic energy as it travels through the joints, offering a layer of protection for structures that employ it.

References

Additional sources

*Liang Ssu Ch'eng Chinese Architecture, A Pictorial History

External links