应县木塔平面丈尺假说:从1933年的旧照谈起

A Design Hypothesis for the Floor-Plan Dimensions of Sakyamuni Pagoda,Ying County,Shanxi Province:Starting with an Old Photo Taken in 1933

本文从中国营造学社老照片所反映的应县木塔三层平坐处构造现象出发,通过研读、统计、比较现有最为详尽的北京建筑工程学院和山西古建筑保护研究所实测数据,对应县木塔各层平面丈尺、侧脚及整体设计规律展开分析,并提出了一套不同于现有研究成果的新假说:一,营造尺长约306毫米;二,平面设计以各层每面面阔为计算要点,明层一至五层每面面阔非完全均匀递变,依次为31.2尺、30尺、28.8尺、27.6尺、26尺;三,明层五层设计上有一定“独立性”,每面面阔及开间设计均为整尺;四,各明层立柱均有侧脚,平坐除四层外均有侧脚,与平坐柱内收配合共同实现木塔逐层面阔递减设计。

Beginning by consulting an old photo of the third pingzuo(mezzanine)floor taken in 1933 by the members of the Society for the Study of Chinese Architecture(Zhongguo Yingzao Xueshe),this paper investigates how the floor plans and column-axes tilts(cejiao,“outward-leaning feet”)of the famous Timber(Sakyamuni)Pagoda in Ying county,Shanxi province,were designed and dimensioned.Through comparative analysis of measured data acquired by the Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Shanxi Institute of Ancient Architecture Conservation,the paper puts forward the following novel hypotheses:1)The length of the original construction ruler is about 306 mm.2)The side lengths,from the first floor to the fifth floor of the pagoda,measure 31.2 chi,30 chi,28.8 chi,27.6 chi,and 26 chi respectively,and these measurements should be considered the core elements of design.3)The fifth floor was designed independently and reveals integer numbers for its side length and partitions.4)Except for the columns of the fourth pingzuo floor,all the column axes are tilted(cejiao)to achieve the gently inward-sloping pagoda profile.