Dong Timber-Framed Architecture Building Techniques (Tongdong Dong Ethnic Area)

Dong timber architecture building techniques are a traditional craft and cultural practice passed down through generations, primarily in the border regions of Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hubei. Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, located in the southwest of Huaihua, Hunan, adjacent to Guizhou and Guangxi, is known as the “Southern Frontier and Gateway of Baiyue”. With a mild climate and vast forests rich in fir and pine, it provides high-quality timber for construction.

Dong architecture, represented by drum towers and wind-rain bridges, uses core techniques such as dense cantilever bracket and simply-supported beam systems. Structures are joined entirely with mortise and tenon without nails, ensuring strength and precision. Construction proceeds without blueprints; masters use a “Xianggan” (marking rod) for measurements. Key steps include ink marking (Famo), component processing, assembly, and decoration. The unique Famo process involves hydraulic measurement, ink-line marking, and joint calibration. Over millennia, the Chuandou (column-and-tie) and Tailiang (post-and-lintel) structural systems have been refined for tighter joinery and rational layouts. The technique—integrating carving, painting, and timber framing—reflects a high degree of artistic unity.

The techniques are passed down through family and apprenticeship, with each village often having two or more inheritance groups led by master inkers. Most Dong men in Tongdao County possess basic timber construction skills, and larger villages have skilled teams capable of building various structures.

Dong timber architecture preserves characteristics of ancient stilted (ganlan) buildings, with many structures dating to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its distinctive artistry, blended with the region’s rustic culture, serves as an important symbol of Dong identity, holding significant historical, cultural, scientific, and aesthetic value.