THE TOUR / The Timberwork of Leong San Tong
 Main structure of the central hall: under the "three cross-beams, five queen-posts" are placed addtional rectangular supporting truss beams |
The most important architectural expression of Leong San Tong lies in the timberwork on the roof truss. The truss structure of the Cheng Soon Keong and the Prayer Pavilion are of the Ting Tang Zao" style, a kind of roof truss which is uplifted by four principal columns.
There is a total of twenty-one purlins from the front to the rear verandah of the main hall, thirteen of which are in the Cheng Soon Keong central hall. Above the front verandah and the altar are curved ceilings constructed in ascending order towards the centre. | |
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The main truss is in the form of "three cross-beams, five queen-posts." The cross-beams, which are round and strong, are held tightly by the melon-shaped queen-posts from which protrude cantilevered bases and brackets (dou gong) in an outward-flying posture. On the top of the bases and brackets are the ji she ("chicken tongue") which support the purlins.
Under the "three cross-beams and five queen-posts" are placed additional rectangular supporting truss beams, to which five-arc-bracers, bases and brackets are attached. In this way, the roof truss becomes structurally stronger and gains greater aesthetic value. The three-bay, eight-pillar Prayer Pavilion has seven purlins. The two side-bays have boat-mat-styled ceilings. The central bay has a "three cross-beams, five queen-posts" truss roof like that of the central hall; only that the cross-beams are rectangular. Its bases are not melon-shaped; they are of animal motifs. The truss roof as a whole, like that of the central hall, is typical of the Zhangzhou (Chiang Chew) architecture. | ||
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The Wood Carving
Refined woodcarvings almost entirely fill up the timberwork of Leong San Tong, especially of the roof truss of the Prayer Pavilion, the front verandah and the central hall. Some of these woodcarvings are painted, some are gilded, and thus look more majestic and dazzling. These woodcarvings are varied in style and technique, indicating that Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi had employed more than one master craftsman in this splendid architectural masterpiece. Without violating structural principles, the master craftsmen portrayed their magnificent skills in the woodcarvings of Leong San Tong at their best. |
 Woodcarving under the eave of the Prayer Pavilion; from bottom to top are tne hanging basket, the short column, the standing timberwork. the animal base, and a carving depicting an immortal riding on a phoenix. On both sides of the short column are dragon fish-shaped joint brackets and sui respectively | |
 The Tao Wan dou  Dragonhead and lotus are two of the motifs in the meticulous dou gong of Leong San Tong  The dou gong in Leong San Tong are magnificent demonstration of dynamics and aesthetics. From bottom to top are dou gong with the motifs of flowers and birds, dragons and flying goddesses respectively |
The Dou Gong (The Cantilevered Base and Bracket)
The Dou gong is a kind of corbel unit which is unique in Chinese architecture. Dou or base is a square wooden block with grooves on the surface, while gong is an arched bracket protruding from a post or a base and is attached to another base. Leong San Tong has a complicated roof truss held together by various dou gong. These bases and brackets are named differently according to the places they appear. In Leong San Tong, you have the eave dou gong, the wall frieze dou gong and the main truss dou gong. There is a great variety of motifs used in the dou gong in Leong San Tong. The dragonhead gong are found in the Prayer Pavilion, the verandah and the central hall. The roof trusses of the central hall and the verandah have elaborate gong in the motifs of flowers and birds, dragons and flying goddesses (fei tian). In other places of lesser importance such as the side of the altar and the rear corridor, the knife gong and the gourd gong can be found. As for the dou, there are two types, namely the Tau Wan (peach-shaped) dou and the octagonal lotus dou. Usually, the latter goes together with the dragonhead or the flying goddess gong. The Gua Tong (The Melon Dou Base) The gua tong or the melon dou base is a type of corbel unit. This melon-shaped dou base holds on to the cross-beam like the paw of an animal. A number of gong and dou are placed on it so as to distribute the weight of the roof truss to the cross-beams. The melon dou bases are found only on the truss of the central hall. They are round and are carved with lion faces from whose mouths protrude their paws. They gripped tightly at the adjoining cross-beams.  The bracket base of the central hall is melon-shaped and is held strongly by shu mu (moon-shaped timberwork) and shu sui | |
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| Bracket base in the shape of a lion, which represents patronage, is auspicious and a protection from evil | Bracket base in the shape of a toad. The three-legged toad absorbs the energy of nature and breathes out the air of auspices |
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| Bracket base in the shape of an elephant, symbolizes auspices and blessings | Bracket base in the shape of a deer which is a symbol of wealth |
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| Bracket base in the shape of a kylin, which is an auspicious animal | Bracket base in the shape of an eagle and a bear, represent "The meeting of Heroes" |
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