Research on the Artistic Expression and Cultural Symbolic Significance of Mortise and Tenon Structures in Traditional East Asian Architecture

In traditional East Asian architecture, the mortise and tenon construction is a basic and distinctive method that not only displays the great craftsmanship but also conveys philosophical and cultural ideals. The creative expression and cultural symbolic meaning of mortise and tenon constructions will be discussed in this paper. Examining the use of this technology in structures exposes the aesthetic ideas and strong cultural connotations of classic East Asian architecture. Through the natural qualities of wood, mortise and tenon technique not only creates complicated roofs and large-span spatial constructions but also stresses the harmonic coexistence with nature. Furthermore embodied in the mortise and tenon construction are the philosophical ideas of “unity of heaven and man” and the search of aesthetics of balance, stability, and solidity. The study findings reveal that the mortise and tenon construction not only offers East Asian architecture rich modeling language but also significantly shapes Eastern people’s viewpoint and values. The wonderful geometric construction and final quest of material aesthetics define the artistic expression of mortise and tenon structure. In ancient East Asian architecture, mortise and tenon joints expressed the aesthetic ideas of symmetry and order in addition to serving to link beams and columns. This structural approach fully shows the force of natural beauty and simplicity since it achieves stable attachment by exact coordination between wooden components and does not need glue or nails. Craftsmen have produced a variety of decorative patterns by using various mortise and tenon shapes, therefore giving buildings delicate and unusual looks.