2,500-year-old Chinese wood joints that make buildings earthquake-proof

2017-07-24T20:19:00-04:00

Over thousands of years, the building science of timber framing developed independently in both Northern Europe and China. But one big difference between the regions is that China, by virtue of its size and geological traits, is prone to devastating earthquakes. Ancient Chinese builders thus needed a way to create wooden structures that could not be shaken apart, and that were not so stiff that its support members would shatter.

Known as dougong, these earthquake-resistant series of brackets were designed and engineered roughly 500 B.C. When interlocked together, the joints transfer weight to supporting columns, containing so many redundancies they can not be shaken apart. By spreading their tolerances over multiple joints they retain flexibility that prevents cracking and splitting.

Perhaps the most surprising element of the system is that the columns are not sunken into the foundation nor moored, but are freestanding.

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2,500-year-old Chinese wood joints that make buildings earthquake-proof