Time, Space, and Construction: Starting with Auspicious Carpentry (开工大吉) in the Vernacular Dong Dwelling

Abstract

The traditional homeland of the Dong nationality is located in the adjacent mountainous areas of Guizhou, Hunan, and the Guangxi Autonomous Region in southwest China (Figure 1). The total Dong population exceeds 2.5 million: 1,400,344 inhabit Guizhou, 757,130 in Hunan, 295,673 in Guangxi, and 54,798 in Hubei.1 Located in mountain valleys, Dong villages are protected from strong winds and enjoy a warm and humid climate with an average temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees C) (Figure 2). Agriculture is dependent on irrigation. Rice is planted on the flat fields, while cotton, tea bushes, and vegetables are grown on terraces on the hills. The mountainsides are covered with fir, pine, and fruit trees.2 Figure 1 Map of Sanjiang County in Guangxi Province (from Annals of the Nationalities in Sanjiang County, 2002, author's drawing) Figure 2 Dwellings of Dudong Village, Sanjiang County, 2004 (author's photo) The Dong are among the Chinese ethnic groups that live in elevated, multistory wooden houses called ganlans . In the Dong community, constructing a ganlan is far more than simple carpentry. A charm “开工大吉” (Starting with Auspicious Carpentry) on the entrance door indicates the lucky beginning of the carpenters' work.3 This auspicious date or time is usually celebrated with special rituals, called li , which have their origins in both secular and sacred behavior and human communication.4 All cultures attempt to find meaning in their relationship with the world. As Western cultures have utilized magic numbers, body metaphors, and blessing ceremonies in making architecture, so the Dongs conduct rituals such as stealing the golden beam, to ensure the success of construction. Beyond preserving the traditional visual characteristics of their vernacular buildings and communities, these rituals may also ensure structural soundness, avoiding dangerous, untested construction. Emulating proven dimensioning of beams and bay spacing truly assures an auspicious …