Dougong (斗拱)

Dougong (斗拱) is a series of interweaven brackets and blocks which are used to help distribute the weight of old East Asian structures, especially the weight of the beams which are above them. This is important because this had made these structures very earthquake-resistant, which is why a lot of East Asian Structures have survived for a long time.

If you have a hard time picturing dougong, they are in the video from (0:00-0:36), and are in the brown. The blue, I think, represent some other wooden beams. The rest of the video shows the Shaolin Temple.

*Note: This is not my video, by any means. I found this very helpful becase it gives you a video demonstration of one of the most fundamental elements of East Asian Architecture.

I will make a video segment on this soon.

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For more info or pictures:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougong
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/斗栱
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=%E6%96%97%E6%8B%B1&b...
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=%E6%96%97%E6%A0%B1&b...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• East
• Asian
• Architecture
• dougong
• dou
• dong
• 斗拱
• china
• structures
• japan
• korea

[YesSummerHot]

Amazing! DouGong is not only a structure of complicated woodwork, but also a unique art of East Asia architchture. I'd like to make one in a small scale by myself. It is not easy, but I want to have a try.

[mokstar]

WOW thanks! this was what i was looking for...

[markhinr]

Construction techniques developed over centuries, through long experience of trial and error, are often superior to current methods of (light) construction which are too often based on which method is most cost efficient and profitable to the developer or building contractor.