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A Study on the Traditional Small Wooden Artworks made by Tenon and Mortise
Abstract
The traditional small wooden artworks, having been influenced by social environment, economy, culture, folklore, etc, satisfied different demands of everyday life during various periods. The continuous development of wooden artworks involved multiple styles. Meanwhile, the tenon and mortise used to link each part of the wooden artworks, and which was applied to varied utensils and joints for multiple purposes, created unique connection types of tenon and mortise. This study aims to explore the applied types and linking methods of tenon and mortise used in the creation of wooden artworks. The content is divided into three parts: (1) analyzing the literature data on excavated coffins and small wooden artworks collected from different areas in order to understand the related historical development of the wooden artworks. Its starting period was from the beginning of the Pre-Qin Dynasty to the Chun Qin Zhan Guo, the period of establishment and then from the Qin/Han/Tang/Wu Dai, the period of reformation, to the Song/Yuan/Ming/ Qing Dynasty, the period of stability. The features of wooden crafts are listed; (2) the reports on excavations are sorted out, relevant literature data and utensils handed down by adding line graphics or pictures to investigate the types of tenon and mortise as well as the materials of plates and pillars used for the wooden artworks and tried to know how they joined with the complex structures are presented; and (3) understanding the factors that impacted the development of tenon and mortise, such as the improvement tools used for the wooden artworks, the physical knowledge of wood, material restriction, usage of glue, social habits, aesthetics etc. The application of wooden artworks made with tenon and mortise has a long period of historical development and its production methods have been continually improved and reformed. They have evolved from practical usage to refined artistic aesthetics. The structure of tenon and mortise has complemented the evolution of wooden craft. The joint of upper and lower part, right and left part, oblique and straight part, thick and thin part, round and square part as well as various joints all reveal the intelligence and skillful experiences of craft masters under the appearance of ordinary utensils. As a result, the study conclusions should help researchers to understand the application and development of wooden crafts and can serve as reference for manufacturing, maintenance or appreciation of future wooden artworks.
Keywords: small wooden artwork;tenon and mortise;tools for tenon and mortise
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