Abstract:
The Yubei Pavilion at Xiyue Temple in Huayin City was incorporated as an addition during the renovation project undertaken in the 42nd year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1777). This project was orchestrated by Bi Yuan, who specifically required that the pavilion be built in accordance with official architectural styles. Drawing on the surveying data of the Yubei Pavilion and other historical edifices within the temple, this paper conducts a comparative analysis of its construction techniques. This encompasses aspects such as the unit of measurement, dougong design, the relationship between the plan and elevation, as well as eave - corner techniques, juxtaposing them with official styles prevalent in Beijing, local practices in Huayin, and those in neighboring regions. The findings reveal that the Yubei Pavilion either adhered to or creatively adapted the “Regulations on Engineering Practices” with respect to the bracket style, component sizes, and wooden structural frameworks. Nevertheless, the eave corners of the pavilion display distinctive regional traits. This situation underscores the difficulties encountered by craftsmen from different regional schools when it comes to coordinating the construction of roof corners, primarily attributable to their deeply entrenched design philosophies and practices.