Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE)
traditional crafts
UNESCO Intangible Heritage
Southeast China
endangered
The traditional craft of building wooden arch bridges in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces uses interlocking timber beams with mortise-and-tenon joints — no metal nails or adhesives. These self-supporting bridges span mountain streams and support roofed pavilions that serve as community gathering spaces. The technique represents an extraordinary understanding of structural mechanics and ecological adaptation.
Skills & Techniques
Mortise-and-Tenon Joinery expand_more
A traditional Chinese woodworking technique that connects wooden components without nails or glue, using precisely carved interlocking joints.
Steps
- Select and season high-quality timber (traditionally Chinese fir)
- Measure and mark the joinery points
- Cut the mortise (socket) using chisels
- Shape the tenon (projecting piece) to match precisely
- Test-fit and adjust until the joint is tight
- Assemble without glue — friction and compression hold the joint
Tools
axe, chisel set, ink marker (modou), hand saw, plane, mallet
Materials
Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), cedar, pine
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