Research Of Building Components Of Stilted Buildings Of Tujia Nationality

The stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi is a special form to adapt the unique mountain landscape, and it is a treasure of traditional vernacular architecture in China. But this building style is decreasing because of the following reasons:the spreading of globalization in the construction field, especially the sweeping of the "internationalism", ignoring the building fundamental characteristic-to build houses basing on regional geography, climate and the material, which is constantly eroding the local traditional architectural culture. Together with reasons such as:the shocks of development of modern science and technology, the evolution of the lifestyle of Tujia nationality, the change of society value of Tujia, the inadequate understanding of the vernacular architecture, and the predatory exploitation of the environment carrier, the stilted building style is decreasing and changing gradually.Taking the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi as the material cultural heritage, it has a value of cultural relic and art aesthetic. While taking this building style as a non-material cultural heritage, it is worthy inheritance and protection. The study on the building component of the stilted building of Tujia nationality is an important starting point of its protection, development and utilization. Therefore, this paper mainly uses the methods of the literature analysis and field survey to carry on the system analysis to the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi, including the following five aspects:building component type, component model, component decoration, component material, component structure.Firstly, this paper introduces the basic situation of the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi, using two legends of the stilted building to arouse the readers’ interest, and it then demonstrates the development course of the stilted building from the history and evolution. This paper also presents the site conditions of the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi from natural and geographical aspects, and it finally summarizes the types of the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi, and they mainly belong to structural type in grounding, layout type in plane surface and organization type in space. Secondly, the building component of the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi can be specifically classified as structural building components, functional building components and auxiliary building components. This paper analyzes the styling features of typical vertical bearing members-column, horizontal bearing components-square-column, functional building components and typical auxiliary building component.Thirdly, according to the decoration materials, decoration connotation and decoration method, the paper analyzes the decorative features of building component of the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi, and it sorts out the decoration materials of structural building components, functional building components and auxiliary building component. The decoration content of building component of the stilted building of Tujia nationality includes:the totem worship, which believes people and god live together, the harmony of living along water and mountain and the life yearning of "auspicious". It also studies on decoration techniques of building component of the stilted building in Xiangxi, including wood carving techniques and stone carving techniques. The main means of wood carving techniques includes relief, alto-relievo, engraving and carving, while the main techniques of stone carving is relief, accompanied with alto-relievo,and line engraving.Finally, this paper summarizes the main materials used in structural building components, functional building components, and auxiliary building components, and it demonstrates the tools for processing materials, including measuring tools, cutting tools, holes opening tools, and assembly tools. Then it analyzes characteristics of the building material component of stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi, and they are:obtaining raw material locally and insisting the harmony between man and nature. Finally, this paper summarizes the processing of the module design of wood structures, including the frame form modules and size modules. And it mainly analyzes the combination of wood structure of stilted building of Tujia nationality from the combination of columns and squared beams and the combination of columns and the ground. The paper concludes the structural features of stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi which are considered as: ecological materials and low carbon. Finally,it briefly introduces the key building process of the stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi from the building of the foundation platform,the erecting of timber frame, tiling, flooring, walling and anti-corrosion treatment and it concludes the construction features of stilted building as follows:utility, stability and economic usefulness.The research has a good academic value and practical value in that it can effectively improve the cognition, appreciation and the protecting consciousness of stilted building of Tujia nationality in Xiangxi, and it provides reference for the application of component of stilted building in other fields. Meanwhile, the research actively explores the enlightenment of the characteristics of stilted building of modern design.