China is home to a variety of traditional wooden arch bridges. These wooden arch bridges were built using unique construction techniques and skills by master carpenters. Fujian Province and Zhejiang Province are known for their wooden arch bridges. In the old days, architects were carpenters and the construction work was usually done by a master carpenter. The carpenters followed a stringent technical procedure during the construction process. This method is passed down orally from mentor to pupil, or from father to son, as these carpenter families are instrumental in the construction, maintenance, and restoration of arch bridges.
Of the 100 woven arch bridges in China, 19 of the bridges are found in Shouning County in the Fujian province alone; these bridges include the Luanfeng bridge in the village of Xiadang and the Yangmeizhou bridge in nearby Kengdi. The Qiancheng Bridge in Tangkou village, which is in the Fujian province, is even older. It was constructed during the Southern Song Dynasty, which lasted from 1127 to 1279. This impressive bridge, measuring 62.7 meters in length and 4.9 meters in width, has been rebuilt several times but remains one of the most emblematic examples of ancient Chinese construction techniques.
Woodworkers design bridges with various types of arches to fit the surrounding environment. Depending on the purpose of the bridge, a passageway may be designed in a variety of styles. Arch supports may be created through beam-weaving, in which three rows of wood are joined and intertwined. The upper layer consists of five shorter rows of wood connected to upper-arch supports. The wood then joins the entire bridge together, creating a solid whole. Traditional tools including Lu Ban rulers, sawhorses, axes, and chisels were used in the construction of the bridges. Experienced woodworkers need to be familiar with the environment and understand the necessary structural mechanics. The carpentry is directed by a master carpenter and executed by other carpenters.
Traditionally, the craftsmanship is passed on orally, or through personal demonstration, by masters teaching their apprentices or relatives within a clan according to strict procedures. These clans play an instrumental role in the building, maintaining, and protecting of the bridges. As a vessel for traditional craftsmanship, arch bridges function as communication tools and venues. Chinese arch bridges have long been used as a place for the exchange of information, entertainment, worship, and the deepening of relationships and cultural identity. Traditional Chinese arch bridges provide cultural space that encourages communication, understanding, and respect between people. However, this traditional practice has declined in recent decades due to rapid urbanization, a lack of timber, and a lack of available construction sites, which have all contributed to its decline and potential extinction.
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