Tibetan watchtower building techniques

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Tibetan watchtower building techniques

Applicant: Danba County, Sichuan Province

Item No.: 969

Project No.: VIII - 186

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Sichuan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Danba County, Sichuan Province

Protected by: Danba County Cultural Center

Brief introduction of Tibetan watchtower construction techniques:

Applicant: Danba County, Sichuan Province

Danba County, located in the west of Sichuan Province, is a multi-ethnic settlement dominated by Jiarong Tibetans. Danba ancient blockhouse building group has a long history and is the architectural art masterpiece of Jiarong Tibetan ancestors. Danba county is the place with the largest number, the most concentrated and the most complete types of ancient blockhouse buildings in China and even in the world. The history of the ancient blockhouse buildings here can be traced back to the Qin and Han Dynasties. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the ancient blockhouse buildings were very popular in the western part of Danba and the whole eastern Tibet. According to statistics in 2004, there are 562 ancient blockhouse buildings in Danba county.

There are various forms of Danba ancient blockhouse buildings, including four corners, five corners, eight corners, thirteen corners and so on, and the four corners are the most common. The corner of the whole building is as straight as a blade, the wall is smooth, the wall is thick and firm, although it has a long history, it still stands in the air. The traditional skill of Tibetan stone building represented by Danba ancient carved Fort building is known as "stone folding skill". It can use the principle of architectural mechanics to build a beautiful and solid blockhouse building with natural stone, showing strong regional characteristics. In this kind of construction technology, backhand masonry technology is very developed and eye-catching. The existing Tibetan Diaolou building techniques in Danba are the living fossils of Tibetan history and culture in this area, which have unparalleled historical, cultural and scientific research value.

With the development of society, the original relatively closed farming civilization has been constantly impacted by modern civilization. There are few craftsmen in Danba who can skillfully master the construction techniques of stone masonry watchtowers. The ancient Tibetan folk architectural techniques are on the verge of being lost and need to be rescued and protected.

Chinese PinYin : Cang Zu Diao Lou Ying Zao Ji Yi