The Evolution of Timber Structures from Tailiang Frame to Triangle Frame of Catholic Churches in Liaoning during the 19^th and 20^th Centuries

This paper focuses on the wooden roof frame of the Catholic churches in Liaoning, spanning from the 19^th to the 20^th centuries. It analyses the form and stress characteristics of various roof structural types, revealing a significant evolution from the tailiang (columnand-beam) frame, which is load-bearing structures commonly used in ancient Chinese wooden buildings, to the triangle frame. A fundamental observation is that the structural development of Liaoning’s Catholic churches was a collaborative effort between missionaries as external forces, and traditional craftsmen as internal forces, and both facilitated an autonomous structural modernization. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes that Catholic architecture played a pivotal role in the start of architectural modernization in Liaoning.