Chinese traditional building woodwork tools

Author: Li He
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: As the saying goes, "A craftsman must first sharpen his tools before he can do his work well." Tools have held an extremely important position in the history of ancient Chinese architecture. It can be said that building tools, especially woodworking and stoneworking tools and their related technologies, determined and constrained the style and progress of ancient Chinese architecture. However, to this day, research on building tools in China remains weak, with few systematic and specialized treatises available—truly a great regret. The recently published book Traditional Chinese Architectural Woodworking Tools by Tongji University Press can be considered such a specialized work. The author, based on archaeological and literary evidence, provides a detailed and systematic discussion of the origins, evolution, and development of woodworking hand tools still in use in China today. Additionally, the book introduces a wealth of measured data, practical experience, and master's songs and sayings related to woodworking operations, making it a valuable historical resource and of practical significance. It is an indispensable teaching reference book. The book is divided into six chapters:
Chapter 1 is a comprehensive overview of traditional architectural woodworking tools. Based on archaeological findings, it analyzes and elaborates on the performance, development, and usage of woodworking tools during the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, as well as the social production environment of woodworkers.
Chapter 2 discusses ancient logging practices, the overall changes and complementary use of logging tools (such as axes, adzes, and saws), and the corresponding timber harvesting and transportation techniques in the south and north. It also examines the properties, usage, cultivation, harvesting, and measurement of cypress (a commonly used timber in southern China for construction) in historical building practices.
Chapter 3 explores the evolution of timber processing techniques in China, from "splitting and chopping" before the Northern and Southern Dynasties to "sawing" after them. The author provides a detailed analysis and examination of the invention and development of splitting tools and sawing tools, as well as the relationship between changes in timber processing systems and tools and the architectural timber classification system.
Chapter 4 focuses on the evolution of ancient leveling tools. By comparing and analyzing the complementary use of leveling tools across different dynasties based on the roughness of processing, it examines the changing primary functions of coarse leveling tools (such as adzes) and the invention and development of fine leveling tools (such as the flat push plane), as well as their impact on other fine leveling tools and finishing tools. It also highlights the relationship between the invention and development of the flat push plane and the evolution of ancient small woodworking practices.
Illustration 4-13, p. 163
Chapter 5 discusses the functions, development, and usage of ancient drilling and carving tools (such as chisels, awls, and drills). It analyzes the historical reasons for their "early maturity" and their profound influence on woodworking joint processing and tool usage. It also examines the development and evolution of ancient woodworking joining techniques (such as mortise and tenon joints, nail connections, and glue connections), as well as the development of ancient carving and carving tools.
Illustration 5-6, p. 188
Chapter 6 focuses on ancient construction, measurement, calculation, and correction tools closely related to woodworking. For example, the invention and usage of compasses and squares; the straightening function of ropes and the "hanging rope leveling" technique, as well as the use of chalk lines derived from ropes; the development of ancient "" (leveling) and leveling technology; scales and measurement practices in construction; close-range and long-range measurement tools and methods; and ancient orientation techniques such as shadow measurement and the use of compasses.
Illustration 6-17, p. 246