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| Stilt houses in a Miao ethnic group village. (PHOTO: VCG) |
The construction techniques of stilt houses in villages of the Miao ethnic group are a traditional architectural art in Leishan county, Guizhou province, recognized as one of China's national intangible cultural heritages.
Constructed entirely from bamboo and timber, these houses typically feature a three-tiered structure: the upper floor serves as a granary, the middle floor as living space, and the ground floor is used to keep livestock or store other goods.
The architecture integrates principles of structural mechanics with basic geometric forms. From a macroscopic perspective, their shape combines rectangles and triangles. Columns, beams, rafters and purlins intersect perpendicularly to form a three-dimensional orthogonal grid system, that forms the basis of rectangular structures. These modules are then extended and combined to form the building.
To meet drainage requirements, roofs are designed with double or multi-sided slopes, ensuring the stability of triangular structures. Viewed laterally, the upper, middle and lower sections of the house are composed of a triangular prism and two rectangular prisms, respectively. This design not only guarantees structural integrity but also imbues the architecture with a dignified and balanced aesthetic.
Adapted to mountainous environments, Miao villages' stilt houses serve as carriers of Miao architectural culture, holding significant historical and academic value for the study of Miao history and cultural heritage.