Dou Gong

definition
Dou Gong is a unique interlocking wooden bracketing system and one of the important element in traditional Chinese architecture.

what is Dou Gong?

 Dou is wooden block while Gong is bow-shaped brackets

Dou Gong :

• consist of many interlocking part of timber to form a bracket
• the pieces are fit together by joinery alone without use glue or nail
• multiple interlocking brackets sets are formed by placing a large wooden block on a column to provide a solid base for the bow-shaped brackets that support the beam or another Gong above it
• this process can repeat many times and rise many stories

^ example of Dou Gong

Dou Gong  was widely used in the ancient Chinese around 770-476 BC and developed into a complex set of interlocking parts by its peak in the Tang and Song Dynasty period

it placed between the top of a column and cross beam

the function is to transmits the weight of the beams or roofs which are above them by transferring the weight to the column

this system helped ancient building to survived for a long time

• can be found only in the most magnificent buildings such as palace and temple halls
• the number of layers of these brackets structure depended on the importance of the buildings

• multiple Dou Gong made these structures very earthquake-resistant
•  it can hold the wood structure together even though brick walls would collapse in the same earthquake