斗拱

dǒugǒng

noun

Measure Word

一组斗拱 zǔ

Meanings

1 dougong
2 interlocking wooden bracket set (traditional Chinese architecture)

Characters

block / measuring cup

Examples

故宫太和殿的斗拱结构精美。

Gùgōng Tàihédiàn de dǒugǒng jiégòu jīngměi.

The dougong structure of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City is exquisite.

斗拱不用一根钉子就能承重。

Dǒugǒng bù yòng yī gēn dīngzi jiù néng chéngzhòng.

Dougong can bear weight without using a single nail.

Tips

culture

Distinctive to East Asian wooden architecture: stacked blocks (斗 dǒu) and arms (拱 gǒng) interlock to transfer roof weight to columns and let eaves overhang dramatically. The system is so iconic that it appears as the logo of the China Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai.

memory

斗 looks like a square cup (the block) and 拱 has the hand radical 扌 plus 共 (together) — the 'hand-bracket' that joins everything together.

Stroke Order

斗 dòu

拱 gǒng