The hybridized timber skeuomorph: taking the Ling-xiao Bao-dien of the Chih-nan temple designed by Chung-Yueh Li as an example

The purpose of this paper is to identify hybrid timber skeuomorph on the first empirical work of the Chinese Classical Style architecture carried out by a native Taiwanese architect, Chung-Yueh Li. The proportions, the composition and forms and numbers of tou-kung were therefore analyzed to compare the timber skeuomorph of the Ling-xiao Bao-dien of the Chih-nan Temple, other temple designs of Zu-Nan Hsieh, and early projects in the Chinese Classical Style architecture. The basis of the analysis was the research results on tou-kung published by the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture. The findings showed that the hybridized timber skeuomorph of the Ling-xiao Bao-dien of the Chih-nan Temple could be found both in the physical project and also in its design processes. The hybridity of the project showed the integration of northern tou-kung in the entire arrangement and the form of individual style with southern tou-kung in the proportions. This reflected the hybridity of the design processes: Li dominated the entire arrangement and forms of the project, whilst Hsieh was responsible for the proportions and forms of tou-kung. Study of this hybridization could further reveal the differences, dynamics and diversity of timber skeuomorphy.