Xiangshan Gang's traditional architectural techniques

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Xiangshan Gang's traditional architectural techniques

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Item No.: 377

Project No.: VIII - 27

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Jiangsu Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Protection unit: Suzhou Xiangshan Workshop Construction Investment Development Co., Ltd

Introduction to the traditional building construction techniques of Xiangshan Gang:

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Located on the shore of Taihu Lake, Xiangshan in Suzhou has a history of more than 2500 years and is one of the birthplaces of Wu culture. Xiangshan Gang is a group of architectural craftsmen with the geographical center of Xukou Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, led by carpenters, who are engaged in classical architectural works such as plasterers, lacquerers, ash hearers, sculptors, mountain folding craftsmen and color painters.

Xiangshan Gang is a product of Wu culture. There have been many masters in history, such as Yang Huizhi, Kuai Xiang and Yao Chengzu. Kuai Xiang presided over the construction of the three main halls of the Ming Imperial Palace, Tiananmen Square and the six government offices of the royal palace. He invented and created the "King Kong leg", which was praised as "Kuai Luban" by Emperor Xianzong. Yao Chengzu's handed down works include the lotus Pavilion in Yiyuan, the main hall in lingyanshan temple, and the plum blossom Pavilion in xiangxuehai. His greatest achievement is the creation of the original method. This monograph on the traditional techniques of Xiangshan Gang is known as "the treasure of Chinese Soviet architecture".

Xiangshan Gang is a school of architecture which has been handed down for thousands of years and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The world-famous and exquisite buildings such as the Forbidden City in Beijing, Tiananmen Square and Suzhou gardens are all made by the craftsmen of Xiangshan gang in Suzhou with Kuai Xiang and Yao Chengzu as outstanding representatives. With these works, Xiangshan gang has left a glorious chapter in the history of Chinese architecture. Xiangshanbang architecture is characterized by harmonious tone, compact structure, fine manufacturing and ingenious layout. Since the 20th century, due to the infiltration of western architectural culture, Xiangshan gang has gradually declined. In recent years, although it has recovered some vitality, it has not yet got rid of the endangered predicament. The craftsmen have low income, hard work, and lack of successors in traditional construction techniques. It is urgent to take measures to protect them in order to ensure their orderly inheritance.