Narrative carpentry: A study on conservation organisations for traditional Chinese timber structures

This research focuses on the conservation of historic timber structural buildings in China. Specifically, it examines the various methods, organisations, histories, and approaches to architectural conservation aimed at countering the obsolescence of traditional wooden construction, particularly in terms of its physical characteristics. It also explores geographic adaptation and misadaptation, alongside the craftsmanship and institutional arrangements of conservation. Though relatively scarce, traditional timber structures hold critical importance for modern China. As observed globally, conservation for physically deteriorated buildings is not unique to China, yet in contemporary times, it has become crucial to this nation's identity, cultural heritage, global standing, and economic well-being.Traditional Chinese timber architecture embodies two distinct construction thinking's: one is the object- oriented approach, which emphasises the buildings' forms and appearances, predominantly observed in official architecture, characterised by a uniformity of form across provinces and strict hierarchical distinctions by function. The other is the process-oriented approach, primarily evident in vernacular architecture, emphasizing regional adaptability and the construction process itself. In the pre-industrial era, the forms of both official and vernacular buildings were indirectly produced through carpenters' calculations and manual construction. Moreover, the construction and conservation of buildings are integral to the evolutionary process of architectural forms. Carpenters, pivotal in traditional architectural engineering, established specific social groups around carpentry teams, known in academic circles as 'jiangpai', representing a guild system of apprenticeships, schools of thought, or ideological families.Over the past century, with the advent of modern architecture in China, traditional timber structures have been progressively supplanted by modern constructions. Modern architectural professionals have largely overshadowed traditional 'jiangpai', though small fractions persist along China's southeastern coast. Regarding wooden structure conservation, traditional artisans and modern architects diverge significantly; the former concentrates on the hands-on construction and maintenance process, while the latter focuses more on representing historic architectural imagery.This research centres on one official artisan collective and two grassroots artisan groups. It investigates the histories, organisational structures, distinctive building techniques, and the transmission of knowledge among these jiangpai. Additionally, the study contrasts modern architects and scholars in the architectural field with traditional artisans, analysing disparities in conservation approaches through specific case studies. The research finds that conservation strategies centred on representing historical information in heritage buildings, typically advocated by contemporary architects, are prevalent in government-led conservation initiatives. In contrast, process-driven conservation practices, espoused by traditional artisan groups, are more common in community-led construction and conservation projects. There is increasing interaction and convergence between these two groups of practitioners. The co- existence of design-led and process-led conservation methods is evident in contemporary conservation practice. Moreover, traditional building techniques remain valuable for future conservation efforts.