Survey And Study Of The Existing Wooden Covered Bridges In Gansu Province

As a special type of building constructed from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China in northwest China,the existing wooden covered bridge in Gansu Province adopts unique construction techniques to make the combination of the bridge and corridor.The covered bridge as a significant transportation facility has been a crucial carrier of bridge construction technology and folk culture in the region.The field survey of existing wooden covered bridges in Gansu Province is carried out.Firstly,the combing of the natural environment and construction history of such buildings is conducted.The covered bridge of outrigger structure built on the mountain torrent is the product of mutual adaptation between mankind and nature.The features of each stage of their development are fully demonstrated by the existing wooden covered bridges of outrigger structure in Gansu.Secondly,the construction methods of the four existing wooden covered bridges in Gansu are explored.Besides,the cultural factors such as the covered bridge and surrounding ancestral temple buildings,the flexible combination form of the corridor top of the covered bridge,the wood carvings,colored paintings,inscribed boards and couplets on the covered bridge are analyzed.According to the survey,the combination of the covered bridge with ancestral temple buildings becomes a public place for the expression of the good wishes of the people and the possession of the function of "entertaining the gods".The different roof styles used for corridors and bridge houses are the embodiment of the flexible combination of corridors and roofs.This construction method makes combination with wood carving components and color paintings on the corridors and bridges,in which the superb artistry is manifested.The cultural connotations are added by the calligraphy and literary works on the inscribed boards and couplets of the covered bridge,in which the significant historical and cultural values are embodied.Finally,two development modes of covered bridge building culture in Gansu are summarized: Firstly,the inheritance and development of Lanzhou Wo Bridge in the longitudinal direction is embodied by Baling Bridge.Secondly,the mutual exchange of architectural culture with covered bridges in other regions is embodied by the Longfeng Bridge,Sangong Bridge,and Cooperative Bridge in the horizontal direction.The development of covered bridge building culture in Gansu is jointly promoted by the two cultural development models..