Taoding Sun (套顶榫): The Column Tenon That Passes Through the Base Stone
Taoding tenon
Most Chinese columns just stand on their stone bases, held by a short foot tenon.
Where a column needs real anchoring, the tenon goes much deeper: the taoding sun passes right through the stone.
- Chinese
- 套顶榫 · tàodǐng sǔn
- Joins
- Column foot through base stone to foundation
- Found in
- Columns needing extra stability
- Proportions
- Square, 1/2 of column diameter; length 1/5–1/3 of column height
- Compare
- Column-foot tenon
How it works
Through the stone
The column foot is cut to a long square tenon, half the column diameter on each side. It passes through a hole right through the base stone and the foundation pier, resting on a pad stone below.
How long
From 1/5 to 1/3 of the column height, set by how deep the foundation goes.
How it's made
Step 1Square tenon
Cut a square tenon half the column wide.
Step 2Long
1/5–1/3 of the column height.
Step 3Through hole
Cut a hole right through the base stone.
Step 4Set down
Pass the column through into the foundation.
Step 5Anchored
Used where columns need more stability.
Step 6Depth
Length set by the foundation depth.
Variations
Short foot tenon
The usual short tenon into a socket on top of the stone.
Related joints
Questions
What is a taoding tenon?
A long column-foot tenon through the base stone into the foundation.
How big is it?
Half the column diameter square; 1/5–1/3 of the column height long.
Why use it?
For columns needing extra anchoring.