shuǎtóu
- Scope note
- Shuatou, literally, “mocking” “head” or “top” (Kroll 2015, 424, 458), is a component part of the dougong (bracket-set) located above the uppermost layer of huagong or ang. The shuatou protrudes from the center of the dougong, intersecting with the linggong, which is perpendicular to it (Liang 1981, 22). In the Qing dynasty Gongcheng zuofa the timber element equivalent to the shuatou is called “grasshopper head” (mazhatou 螞蚱頭) (清工部 2018, 196). This element might also be called “initial-cut head” (qieji tou 切幾頭) when the end is cut into a basic rectangular shape (Pan and He 2005, 84).
- Date of creation: 01-Dec-2025
Accepted term: 01-Dec-2025