Unity in Diversity:A Analysis of Timber Frame Construction Techniques in Traditional Dwellings of Tonghai,Yuxi and Shiping,Honghe

GUO Xueyu; GAO Yonglin; SONG Chunge; WU Yuqin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2026.02.011

Abstract：The"Tonghai Craftsmanship Tradition of Southern Yunnan"represents one of the two mainstream traditions with traditional courtyard-style timber frame construction techniques in Yunnan.Its technical system bears significant influence from Southern China during the Ming and Qing dynasties.Through the long-term localized evolution,the system has not only preserved the essence of construction techniques in Southern China but also developed a unique construction paradigm in accordance with the geographical environment and climatic characteristics of Southern Yunnan through adaptive modifications.Geographically adjacent and sharing cultural origins,Tonghai in Yuxi and Shiping in Honghe constitute core distribution areas of this tradition.However,they belong to distinct cultural-geographical units,namely,Central Yunnan and Southern Yunnan.The traditional timber-framed dwellings have gradually developed divergent characteristics over time,with key construction techniques remaining unsystematically elucidated.To address this research gap,the timber frame construction techniques of traditional dwellings in Tonghai and Shiping are discussed to investigate the dissemination,adaptation,and differentiation of the same craftsmanship tradition across distinct geographical environments.The literature analysis,field investigation,and comparative analysis were combined in this study.Based on a review of existing research results,data were supplemented through typical swelling mapping and interviews with craftsmen.A systematic comparative analysis on plan layout,structural types and component characteristics,mortise-and-tenon fabrication and typology,and roof forms and construction was carried out.According to the research results,residential buildings in Tonghai and Shiping are highly similar in terms of fundamental forms,structural logic,and core mortise-and-tenon techniques,demonstrating the continuity and unity of the"Tonghai Craftsmanship Tradition."The plane layout are mainly feature variations of the courtyard of"Yi Ke Yin"and multi-courtyard layout,while structural frameworks mainly combine beam-raising and a Chuan-dou structure.The structural logic emphasizes the core load-bearing function of"mortise-and-tenon joints",with highly consistent basic types,core fabrication techniques,and mechanical principles.However,although both craft systems can be traced to the"Tonghai Craftsmanship Tradition,"the construction techniques in Tonghai and Shiping developed distinctive regional features due to differentiated topography,cultural integration,and variations in technique inheritance.With respect to plan layout evolution,Tonghai developed the layout in the shape of Chinese characters"Ri/Lv"by centering on the"Yi Ke Yin."Shiping focused on the expansion of multiple courtyards and developed the irregular layout of the Chinese character"Tu"to highlight differences in topographical adaptation.With respect to structural framework and component details,there are regional differences in the flexibility of framework combinations,structural forms,and dimensions,as well as component arrangement.In the application logic of mortise-and-tenon joints,distinct craft preferences are observed in detail processing,functional positioning,and dimensional precision,reflecting divergent regional traditions of craftsmanship transmission.Roof construction techniques exhibit regional variations in water drainage systems,ridge-lifting methods,layered roofing approaches,and tile dimensions,highlighting their adaptation to microclimates and materials.Within the craft terminology system,local names for certain components reveal dialectical differences,reflecting the linguistic localization of technique transmission.Based on a systematic comparison of construction techniques in Tonghai,Yuxi,and Shiping,Honghe,this study clarifies the commonalities and distinct characteristics within the"Tonghai Craftsmanship Tradition of Southern Yunnan"across neighboring regions.This not only reveals a pattern of"divergent evolution from a common origin"but also deepens our understanding of the complexity and diversity within the traditional residential construction systems of Central and Southern Yunnan.The research results are of significance in the context of protecting and inheriting traditional architectural cultures in Yunnan and promoting the integration of modern architectural design and traditional construction techniques.