Qiang Zhu (Slanted Pillar): The One Propping Up Diagonally

A side oblique view of a wooden *pailou* (archway), focusing on the support method. From the side, it is clearly visible: the main upright columns are vertical, but at about two-thirds of the column height, there are diagonal raking struts extending from the ground to brace the columns, both front and back, at an angle of about sixty degrees. Their ends are secured with mortise and tenon joints and iron hoops. The feet of the raking struts also have stone column bases and clamping components. Thus, the entire *pailou*, when viewed from the side, forms a stable triangular structure, rather than a flimsy flat wall. The cross-section of the raking struts is slightly smaller than that of the main columns, and their surfaces also have polychrome painting. This component is obscured by the front columns when viewed from the front and is only visible from the side. Avoid: drawing from the front where the structure is not apparent, omitting the raking struts to make the *pailou* appear flimsy and unstable, drawing the raking struts as vertical, using modern steel diagonal bracing.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一座木牌樓的側面斜視,重點在支撐的做法。從側面可以清楚看見:主要的立柱是垂直的,但在柱身約三分之二高度處,前後各有一根斜向的戧柱從地面斜撐上來抵住柱身,角度約六十度,末端以榫卯與鐵箍固定;戧柱的柱腳同樣有石質的柱礎與夾持構件。因此整座牌樓從側面看是一組三角形的穩定結構,而不是單薄的一片牆。戧柱的斷面比主柱略小,表面同樣有彩畫。這個構件在正面看時被前方的柱子擋住,只有側面才看得見。避免:從正面畫看不出結構、省略戧柱讓牌樓看起來單薄不穩、把戧柱畫成垂直、使用現代的鋼構斜撐。