The Last Wooden Hall Before the Millennium
United Nations Registration No.00157
Heritage Since
Original structure rebuilt in 1013 AD, tracing roots to Eastern Han (25–220 AD)
Collector Grade
Model reflects 1 of the only surviving examples of Song-era melon columns and bracket arms
Manual Hours
Over 40 hours of artisanal cutting, joining, and proportional calibration
📜 Story Behind the Craft
Nestled at the foot of Lingshan in Ningbo, Zhejiang, Baoguo Temple was originally built during the Eastern Han dynasty. Its present-day Great Hall, rebuilt in 1013 AD (Northern Song), stands as a rare masterpiece of early timber engineering. This architectural model replicates the intricate bracket system, column construction, and layout that made Baoguo Temple a milestone in ancient Chinese craftsmanship. It’s not just a building—it’s a lesson in proportion, balance, and ingenious material efficiency.
📐 Product Specifications
- Dimensions: 16.9 × 18.1 × 11.4 inches
- Scale: 1:45
- Structural Highlights: Multi-section melon-shaped columns (gua leng zhu), full dougong bracket network, and hall-style beam frame
- Material: Basswood board
- Assembly: Fully constructed model (non-DIY)
🤝 Made with Care
Each part of the model is laser-cut and hand-assembled to reflect the ancient Chinese woodworking ideal: “no nails, no glue, pure structure.” The ratio of wood cross-section (3:2) replicates the Song dynasty’s optimal material usage—ensuring visual authenticity and educational value.
🧵 Craftsmanship & Ingredients
This piece features advanced dougong (interlocking wooden brackets), melon-ribbed columns made from four fitted sections, and historically accurate curved rafters. The artisans used historical documents, site surveys, and structural studies to ensure accuracy in reproducing every layer of the bracket network and the “no-beam” structure of the Great Hall (wuliang dian).
🌏 Artisan & Origin Spotlight
Crafted in the Jiangnan region—famed for its Song dynasty woodwork—this model pays homage to the surviving Baoguo Temple in Ningbo. Still standing after more than a millennium, the original hall is a living testament to the ingenuity of Chinese wooden architecture and remains a vital reference for architectural historians today.
🏛️ Cultural Heritage Recognition
Rooted in Classical Chinese Timber Architecture
Baoguo Temple is considered a pinnacle of early Chinese timber architecture for its high-outreach bracket sets, column segmentation techniques, and decorative beam painting (seven red, eight white palette). The mortise-and-tenon system allows the entire hall to breathe and endure earthquakes and humidity over centuries.
UNESCO ICH Connection
🔖 UNESCO ICH No.00358: Traditional Design and Practices for Building Chinese Wooden Arch Bridges
🔗 Learn more at the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage website →
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