Dougongs in the Forbidden City. (PHOTO: VCG) |
As the largest preserved royal palace complex still standing, the Forbidden City in Beijing has an extensive collection of art and artifacts, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions. One unique feature of the Forbidden City, now known as the Palace Museum, is the design of its roofs.
They use dougongs or bracket sets, which are created by placing a wooden block ("dou") onto a column to form a solid base. Another wooden bracket ("gong") is then inserted into the dou to support either a wooden beam, or another gong, creating visually compelling and highly complex structures that support the roofs.
As multiple dougong brackets are added, the weight of the roof is distributed evenly throughout the structure. This way, individual parts can withstand splitting or cracking and the system of interlocking beams is resilient to stress, such as the stress created by earthquakes.
"The bracket is made up of many small wooden components that are inserted and stacked horizontally and vertically. Although these components are small, when they form a bracket, they are able to bear the weight of the entire roof and pass the weight downward to the lintel and pillars," Zhou said.
Besides being a unique construction technique that has helped Chinese buildings stand the test of time, the dougong is also an aesthetically beautiful creation. The brackets are arranged in an orderly manner under the eaves. Their size gradually increases from bottom to top, creating a beautiful arc.
The beauty of the brackets also comes from their uniform symmetry. The height and width of each component are basically the same, and only the length, and appearance are different according to the overall needs.
The use of brackets in the Forbidden City reflects the power and beauty of ancient Chinese architecture and is the crystallization of the sweat and wisdom of ancient Chinese craftsmen.