Translation and revision of the author's thesis (doctoral)--Technische Universität München, 2017, under the title: Gewebebogenbrücken : Geschichten struktureller Gedanken.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

From Caesar to Da Vinci -- A full moon in another land -- Searching for the Chinese wooden arch bridges -- Building a woven arch bridge : local knowledge -- The Rulong Bridge : a detective story -- Technique and craftsmen -- Rethinking the histories of woven arch bridges.

"This book focuses on the woven arch bridge, an arch-shaped structure that is one of the most extraordinary timber building traditions of the world. The woven arch bridge exists widely in different cultures and its specific nature is conceptualized by the author as a kind of "universal uniqueness", challenging widespread viewpoints on its origin and genealogy. Taking this argument as its main thread, the book traces the histories of different woven-arch-bridge-cultures and investigates in particular the woven arch bridge in the mountains of Southeast of China from three angles, using both archaeological and anthropological methods. Resting upon these case studies, a definition of typology and a new theory of structural evolution are established, while the book also draws comparisons between western and eastern timber building cultures and offers new insights on the differences between East Asia and Europe. The book also provides a large number of examples and illustrations of the bridge, and will be of great value and inspiration for architects and scholars studying the history of architecture, bridges and construction, while also appealing to general readers interested in historical bridges and traditional construction technology"-- Provided by publisher.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.