名人小檔案：
姓名：魯班，又稱「公輸般」、「公輸子」，班、般通用；因他是魯國人，故稱魯班。
時代：活於春秋時代。
成就：建築業的祖師爺。傳說中的魯班是古代中國能工巧匠的代表，曾經發明了許多木工工具，如鋸子、鉋子等。
Dossier:
Name: Lu Ban, also known as the “Multi-Skilled Hand”. He had the surname of Lu as being a native of the State of Lu. “Ban” is another word for “Multi-Skilled Hand”, so he is called “Lu the Multi-Skilled Hand”.
Period: Lived during the Spring and Autumn period.
Accomplishments: Forefather of carpentry and construction. The Lu Ban from legends was the archetypical master artisan, the inventor of many carpentry tools such as the saw and plane.
中國傳統的木建築結構，是一種由柱子與樑架結合而成的樑柱結構體系，不需要一根釘亦能築起一幢建築物。中國木建築的結構是由千百件獨立和鬆散的構件好像積木般砌成。架構方面以抬樑式與穿斗式結構最為多見。由於這種別樹一幟的建築方式，人們常以「牆倒屋不塌」來形容中國的木建築。因為支撐起屋頂的根本就不是牆壁，而是由柱網樑枋所組成的框架，牆壁既可裝亦可拆。「合院」的建築模式有二、三及四合院，但以四合院最為普遍。
The traditional Chinese wooden structure is a construction system fitting pillars and beams together using slotting keys. With this system, it would be possible to erect a whole building without using a single nail. The Chinese wooden structure is built by fitting together hundreds and thousands of separate component pieces like children’s play building blocks. The most widely used basic construction frameworks included the post and lintel and column and tie. Because of this unique method of construction, people often use expressions like “walls may collapse, but the building remains standing” to describe the Chinese wooden structure. This is because the roof is not held up by walls at all, instead, it is held up by the framework consisting an arrangement of pillars and beams, so the walls can be freely dismantled or re-arranged without affecting the integrity of the whole structure. The “Courtyard Residence” type of house design comes in two, three, and four-tier variations, the latter is otherwise called Quadrangle Residence, is the most common.
「四」—東南西北四面，「合」—圍在一起的意思。
特點：四面都以牆壁包圍，牆內有東南西北四組房屋，中間是庭院。北邊是「正房」面積較大、日照最充足，冬暖夏涼，是家庭中輩份最高的人居住（如祖父母）。東西兩邊是「廂房」面積較小，是小輩居住的地方（如子女）。南邊是「倒座」用作客房及書房。「正房」後面是「後罩房」是未出嫁的女眷、女傭的居所及擺放雜物的地方四合院的庭院，是全院的中心，是一家人聚首聊天的地方。
四合院實踐了中國文化中「家」（房屋）「庭」（庭院）的概念。從建築環境融合中國傳統文化，亦展現了中國傳統家庭中尊卑長幼及親疏有別的人倫關係。
The term “quadrangle” incorporates the four aspects of the east, south, west, and north into an uninterrupted space of the building.
Main characteristics: The building is surrounded by containing walls in which four clusters of buildings within the compound each respectively facing the easterly, southerly, westerly, and northerly direction with a courtyard at the centre. On the northern side is the south-facing “Master Quarter”, occupying the larger area, with the most abundant sunlight, warm in winter and cool in summer. Hence this is the abode for the individual or individuals of the highest status in the household, such as grandparents. Standing on the left and right of the master quarter, on the east and west sides are the “Wings”, occupying lesser areas as dwellings for younger members of the family such as children and grandchildren. On the south side is the “Lounging en-suite”, used as guest quarters and library. To the back of the master quarter is the “Back quarters”, which normally house female offspring before marriage, female servants and as storage space. The courtyard of the Quadrangle Residence is the central focus of the whole household, a common area shared and enjoyed by all members of the family.
The building environment is an embodiment of traditional Chinese culture. It showcases the traditional values in human relationship within the traditional Chinese family household based on seniority and hierarchy, and which distinguishes between close kinships and distant relations.
值得一提的是位於九龍鑽石山的志蓮淨院雖然是新建築，但它卻是全球唯一的仿唐古建築群，在中國建築史上有特殊價值，木建築的藝術亦彰顯了中國人的建築智慧。
It is noteworthy that although the Chi Lin Nunnery located in Diamond Hill in Kowloon is a new building, it is the only building cluster in the world that is constructed in the Tang building style. It is thus of special value in Chinese architectural history. The artistry in the wooden building structure also stands as testimony of the architectural flair and ingenuity of the ancient Chinese people.
資料來源Sources :
http://www.yuntech.edu.tw/~yangyf/ff/gra028.html
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E5%90%88%E9%99%A2
http://ezfun.coa.gov.tw/suggest_dispatch.php?issue=34&func=list
http://baike.baidu.com/view/13973.htm