前言

榫卯是7000 年前古代中國人的一項重大發明。它是木構件上采用的凹凸連接方式。凸的部分叫榫，凹的部分叫卯，榫頭插入卯眼中，兩塊木頭就會緊緊地連為一體，使獨立的、松散的構件結合成具有荷載能力的結構體。榫卯用途廣泛，它不僅是中國古典建筑和家具的核心構成元素，還被應用于舟車、造橋等其他領域。中國古代工匠創造出種類繁多、精巧無比的各式榫卯。構件之間，不用一根金屬釘，就可以做到間不容發、天衣無縫，體現了古人的設計匠心與造物智慧。除了精美、實用等優點外，榫卯結構還蘊含著中國古人的陰陽互補、虛實相生的哲學思想，凝結了中國幾千年的傳統文化精粹。

榫卯是古代科學技術與文化藝術的美妙結晶，承載著造物領域的民族記憶，凝聚了中國人追求完美、精益求精的工匠精神。但是隨著科技的發展，木材之間的榫卯連接漸漸被五金構件、化學黏合劑所取代，公眾對這項傳統工藝的了解越來越少。為響應習近平主席提出的“ 踐行文化自信，努力展示中華文化獨特魅力”的號召，中國科學技術館自主研發了“榫卯的魅力”主題展覽。展覽面積為2000 平方米，展品38 件（套），共設置5 個單元：七千年前的發明、古代建筑的智慧、中式家具的靈魂、形形色色的榫卯、現代榫卯的演變。展覽以榫卯為中心，通過實物、微縮模型、互動模型、多媒體、木工工坊等豐富多彩的展覽與教育形式，講述榫卯的起源，展示榫卯工藝在古代建筑、中式家具、造船造橋等不同領域以及現代生產生活中的應用。旨在傳播古代科技、傳承文化遺產、弘揚工匠精神，引領觀眾感受榫卯經久不衰的魅力。

我們特將展覽內容匯編成《榫卯的魅力》展覽圖文集，借此讓更多的人走近榫卯，了解這一中國古老的傳統工藝，感受其科學精巧的設計、深厚的文化底蘊與含蓄的內在美。

展覽在籌備過程中得到了許多專家學者的指導與幫助，在此表示誠摯的感謝和敬意。展覽參考和引用的圖書與論文，因圖書體例的緣故，未能在書中一一注明，我們也在此向文獻作者表示感謝。

謹以此展覽與圖文集致敬中國歷史上的能工巧匠們。

《榫卯的魅力》編委會

Preface

Mortise and tenon, a great invention 7,000 years ago by ancient Chinese people, is a concave-convex connection method used on wooden components. The concave part is called mortise, while the convex part is called tenon. When the tenon is inserted into the mortise, the two pieces of wood will be tightly connected, so that the independent and loose components can be combined into a building with large load capacity. Mortise and tenon is widely used. It is not only the core element of Chinese classical architecture and furniture, but also used in ships, vehicles, bridge building and other fields. Ancient Chinese craftsmen created a wide variety of exquisite mortise and tenon structures. Without a metal nail between the components, those mortise and tenon structures could fit tight and seamlessly, which reflects the ingenuity and wisdom of the ancient craftsmen. In addition to the advantages of delicacy and practicality, mortise and tenon structures also embody the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin-yang complementation and the transformation of the real and the virtual, epitomizing the essence of Chinese traditional culture of thousands of years.

Mortise and tenon is the wonderful crystallization of ancient science and technology, culture and art, bearing the national memory of the field of creation and embodying the craftsman spirit of Chinese people in pursuit of perfection and excellence. However, with the development of science and technology, the mortise and tenon connections between wooden componentsare gradually replaced by metal hardwa rec om ponen ts and chemical binders,and the public are losing knowledge of this traditional technology. In response to President Xi Jinping’s call for “practicing cultural confidence and demonstrating the unique charm of Chinese culture”, China Science and Technology Museum independently developed the theme exhibition“The Charm of Mortise and Tenon”. The exhibition area is 2,000 squaremeters, with about 38 pieces (sets) of exhibits. There are five sections: The Invention from 7,000 Years Ago, The Wisdom of Ancient Architecture, The Soul of Chinese Furniture, Various Kinds of Mortise and Tenon and The Evolution of Modern Mortise and Tenon. Focusing on mortise and tenon, the exhibition tells the origin of mortise and tenon through various forms of exhibits and education programs, such as physical objects, miniatures,interactive models, multimedia, carpentry workshops, etc., and shows the application of mortise and tenon technology in different fields such as ancient architecture, Chinese furniture, ship building and bridge building, as well as in modern production and life. The exhibition aims to spread ancient science and technology, inherit cultural heritage, carry forward the craftsman spirit and lead the audience to experience the enduring charm of mortise and tenon.

It is precisely in this spirit that we have compiled The Charm of Mortise and Tenon so as to let more people approach mortise and tenon, understand this ancient Chinese traditional technology, and feel its scientific and exquisite design, profound cultural heritage and implicit inherent beauty.

The exhibition has been guided and helped by many experts and scholars in the preparatory process. We would like to express our sincere thanks and respect. And because of the style of this book, the documents referenced and quoted in the exhibition cannot be specified in the book one by one. We sincerely salute the authors of the documents.

We hereby dedicate the exhibition and book to the great scientists and

skilled artisans in ancient China.

Board of Editors for

The Charm of Mortise and Tenon