Traditional Chinese Arch Bridge

Oct. 2009Made By Xinping Yang

Translated by Zhiyan Yang

Origins

For years, the origins of traditional Chinese arch bridge remains controversial. Here are several theories about it:-Tian Sheng Qiao theory: which means the arch bridges are inborn and existed long before the existence of human being.-Tu Xue theory: which means the shape of arch bridges took its source from the shape of cave.-Tao Weng theory： which means the shape of arch bridges originated from the shape of pottery urn.-Die Se Yan Jin theory (Corbel Arch): which means the arcuate structure rooted from the corbel arch structure.-Zhe Bian Yan Jin theory (Multilateral Arch): which means the structure originated from the multilateral arch. And this theory seems have the most credential in academic community

And the oldest records of multilateral arch structure and curved structure dates back to Han Dynasty.(206 BCE-A.D.220)

The structure of tomb passage in Han Dynasty

• One the earliest records of arch bridge in China: on the relief brick sculptures(Hua Xiang Zhuan) in East Han Dynasty(A.D.25-A.D. 220)

The oldest existing bridge in China is the Zhaozhou Bridge of 595-606 AD, Sui Dynasty(In Now Hebei Province). It adapted the segmental structure, which combined a very low span-to-rise ratio of 5.2:1, with the use of spandrel arches (buttressed with iron brackets). The Zhaozhou Bridge is the world's first wholly-stone open-spandrel segmental arch bridge.

(from wikipedia)

Structures

• Basically, the structure of arch bridge can be divided into two sorts: multilateral arch structure and curved structure

• multilateral arch structure:3-edged, 5-edged, 7-edged (mostly with an odd number of edges) and so on

• Curved arch: round arch, segmental arch, pointed arch, elliptical arch, horseshoe arch and so on.

Stone arch bridge

• mostly seen because they are more likely to be preserved.

• 3-edged arch bridge.• Both in Zhejiang Province

The Bridge of Old Moon, 5-edged Arch Bridge, in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province

Built in Southern Song Dynasty（ A.D. 1127-1279）

Seven-edged arch bridges in Shaoxing, Zhejiang ProvinceBuilt in Ming and Qing Dynasty（AD.1368－1911）

The different structures of arches (With axes shown)

The different types of the construction of voussoir

Horseshoe Arch

Pointed Arch

Open-Spandrel arch bridge

Equilateral pointed arch bridge

• Viaduct in regions south of the Yangtze River

Terms of all parts of the stone arch bridge

Wooden Arch Bridge• Experts believe that Wooden Arch Bridge

appeared before-if not at- Northern Song Dynasty (A.D. 960－ 1127). Hong Bridge, or Rainbow Bridge in the well-known Qing Ming Shang He Tu (Along the River During Qingming Festival) is regarded as the first known Wooden Arch Bridge.

The wooden arch bridge in Qing Ming Shang He Tu (Along the River During

Qingming Festival)

Wooden arch bridge with colonnade in Taishun, Zhejiang Province, built in Qing Dynasty

• Rulong Bridge (Dragon-like Bridge) in Qingyuan

• Wooden 3 edged arch bridge• Built in Ming Dynasty

• Yuqing Bridge in Mount. Wuyi, Fujian Province• Built in the reign of Guangxu(A.D. 1889)

Wei yuan Ba Ling Bridgerebuilt in 1919

Houkeng Bridge, Qingyuan, Zhejiang Province

The receiver of the UNESCO Award of Escellence in the

year of 2005

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