Restoration of ancient Chinese opera spiral wooden domes, accounts of field practice

The zaojing is a wooden construction system that covers opera stages for rain protection and sound control. Zaojings in China display a diverse range of geometric expressions, delicate manufacturing, structural behaviours, and acoustic qualities. Despite their uniqueness and patrimonial interest, very little literature is known to exist, and it lacks comprehensiveness. Based on the fresh field investigations in North- and South- China, at least six kinds of zaojing types have been collected. From the view of geometry, construction, structural behaviour and renovation process, this paper attempts to introduce one of the unique type “spiral zaojing” comprehensively and intensively. Through the interview with three local carpenter masters, the field practice in contemporary rural China could also be brought to light.