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Five
Main Holy Palanquin Making Procedures
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1.
Design Plan
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In the very beginning of holy palanquin making, a
design draft must be drawn in accordance to the color, size, material, and type
specified by the people in charge at the temple, temple chairman or committee.
Like the making of traditional furniture, the type of design is first
confirmed, and then the masters would decide how to carve and decorate the
palanquin in accordance to their area of expertise.
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2.
Chooseand Prepare Material
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The
type of timber and material used is mainly decided together by the Master and
the temple chairman. In fact, the material chosen determines the price of the
palanquin, because the more expensive the timber the more delicate and refined
the workmanship has to be. On top of that the palanquins are more durable. Holy
palanquins made of Hinoki are the most pricy, but also most durable and
exquisite.
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3.
Making of the Main Structures
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The main structures of a holy palanquin are the
borders, the wall columns, the roof and the dragon pillar, which is the
sturdiest and have the least hollow carving design.
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4.
Secondary Structure Making and Carving
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The
secondary structures of a holy palanquin are the block, the windows, and the
pediment. Included are also decorative elements such as the bucket arch and
floating articles which needed the most carving and decorating. A carving
master would first draw the specifications of the customer on the timber, and
then slowly carve the design onto the wood.
In the past, themes of flowers and plants, dragons and phoenixes, and
qilin were used. Nowadays, themes of stories of filial, piety and righteousness
such as “Legend of the Three Kingdoms”, and “The Oath of the Brotherhood in
Peach Garden” are used.
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5.
Assemble and Paint
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The assembling plan of a holy palanquin depends on
its latching method. It is then painted according to the specifications of the
head of the temple.
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