土
楼
建
筑
技
术
Building Technology
1 材料 Materials
大岭下村土楼的建造多采用就地取材，无论是构成地基的石头，还是构成墙身的土，抑或是土楼的结构层木构架、竹筋等，均来自本地。
In Dalingxia Village, earth buildings, called "tulous", are built using only local materials, like the stone that constitutes the foundation, the soil that forms the wall, the structural layer of the earth building, the bamboo ribs, within the earth bricks, and the rest.
墙基由大块卵石垒砌，多由村民去河边选取、搬运。墙身由本地土构成，当土楼选址确定后，砌筑土楼的工人，便从土楼中心开始挖土。土质的好坏直接关系到土墙的坚固性。
The wall base is built by large blocks of stones and pebbles that villagers pick from the river and carry to the building. The wall is made up of local soil. When the site of the earth building is decided, the workers start digging soil from the center of the earth building. Its quality will determine the strength of the earth wall.
据大岭下村营下楼的老匠人阿康叔所说，一般要选用黏性较好的含沙质较多得黄土，有时要根据实际情况参杂石灰，经过夯筑后，土质紧致坚硬。土墙外表面要用沙土拌石灰抹面。土的用料与配比是砌筑土楼的关键，需要丰富的经验。
Uncle A Kangshu, an old craftsman from Dalingxia village, uses generally more sandy soil which is more sticky, and often more adapted. Mixed with lime, the soil gets firm and hard. The outer surface of the earth wall is covered with sand and lime. It is very important to keep the proportions of materials and soil. Experience is a essential to build the earth building.
2 技艺 Technology
大岭下村得土楼有圆有方，大小不一，但建造工序基本一致。通常要经过选址定位、开地基、打墙角、砌墙、构架、盖瓦、装修等。
Dalingxia village has toulous in both round and square shapes. The construction process is the same for both kinds of buildings, and takes into account the selection of the site, the foundations, wall corners, wall frames, tiles, decoration, etc.
选址定位一般由风水先生来根据当地得自然环境，来确定土楼得位置。通过观察大岭下村得土楼分布可知，土楼得位置多在山脚溪边，负阴抱阳，背山面水，在山水环抱中得平坦宽广的缓坡地带。
The selection of the site is generally determined by a Feng Shui master, who determines the location according to local natural environment. If we observe the distribution of tulous in Dalingxia Village, we notice they are located in a gentle and wide mountain slope between mountains and river water.
开地基就是在确定土楼位置后逐步确定土楼得层数和半径，再从风水先生确定的大门中线找到圆心，选择良辰吉日动工挖槽。
After the site of the tulou have been selected, the length and radius are determined. Then, the Feng Shui master establishes the center line of the tulou, starting from the middle of the gate.
打墙角分为垫墙基、砌墙脚两步。垫墙基是用大块卵石垒砌到一定高度，卵石大面朝下，并用小卵石填补缝隙，墙基于室外地坪平其后开始砌墙脚。据阿康叔指出，大岭下村内的土楼即采用卵石干砌，高度0.4-0.5米左右，防雨隔潮，避免土墙受到浸泡。
Tulou corners are divided into two steps: the base of the wall and its foot. The cushion wall foundation is built with large pebbles up to a height of approximately 40-50 cm. The stones face down, and the gaps between them are filled with smaller pebbles, the outdoor wall is supported on this flat stone foot. “Tulous bases in Dalingxia village are mainly made of rocks and pebbles, which are rain-proof and damp-proof, and hence prevent the earth walls from being soaked” said A KangShu.
砌墙是建造土楼的最重要、花费精力最大的工作。2018年国际志愿者来到大岭下村参加了砌墙的过程。由阿康叔亲自指导，每一位志愿者都参与了从翻土、安装模具，到利用杵子逐排、逐块的夯筑，以及加竹筋、交错对接等具体内容，使大家对夯土技艺由了直观清晰的认识和理解。
Building tulou walls is the most important and energy consuming task. In 2018, a group of international volunteers came to Dalingxia village to participate in this process. Under the direction of Uncle A Kangshu, every volunteer participated in the masonry process, with activities such as preparing the soil, installing the mold, making use of the traditional pestle in the row, ramming the block, and adding an inner bamboo structure for interleaving and docking. In this way they had the opportunity of understanding deeply this ramming technology.
构架是每夯好一层土墙，要在墙上挖好搁置楼层龙骨的凹槽，再由木工竖木柱、架木梁。
When a layer of earth wall has been finished, it is necessary to dig grooves in the wall for inserting the joists, and to prepare wooden poles and wooden beams.
盖瓦是夯好顶层墙体后，按一定角度盖瓦，屋面坡度较大利于排水，同时出檐较大，防止雨水冲刷土墙。
Once the walls are completed, the roof tiles are placed on the top. It is very important to calculate the angle of the tiles, and the slope of the roof in order to optimize drainage. Roof wings are large, in order to protect it from the rain, which could damage the earth wall.
土楼的内外装修是再以上主体结构完成后进行的，包括栏杆、铺地、门窗、楼匾、台阶等。
建造土楼的技艺精妙绝伦，来自世界各地的志愿者对这样的古老智慧叹为观止，并致力于帮助大岭下村延续、传播这样的传统营建技艺。
The interior and exterior decoration of tulous is carried out after the completion of the above main structure, including railings, paving, doors and windows, plaques, steps, etc.
3 仪式 Ceremony
据阿康叔所说，在建造土楼开工前要祭拜天神，以保工人们平安。墙角砌好，砌墙之前要再吃一顿“开工酒”，并放爆竹鞭炮。当瓦顶完工后，要办“完工酒”，在土楼顶层燃放炮竹，并宴请亲朋好友。
According to Uncle A Kangshu, before the construction of the tulous, gods must be worshiped so that the workers are safe. Before the wall is built, it is necessary to toast with a "start-up wine" and set off firecrackers. Also, when the tile roof is completed, the workers toast to an "end-of-construction wine", also accompanied by off firecrackers thrown from the top floor of the tulou, for the entertainment of friends and relatives.
4 花费 Cost
建造一个3层土楼大概要花费3-4年时间。据大岭下村阿康叔所说，他自家土楼是他和一个老师傅共同砌筑得，花了2年时间才修筑完成，可见修筑土楼是相当耗费人力的伟大工程。
It takes about 3-4 years to build a 3-floor tulou. In the lower village of Daling, Uncle A Kangshu, together with an old master, built a tulou for himself. The construction lasted for 2 years, and although it was never completely finished, a great part of it is inhabited. It can be seen that building a tulou is a great project that consumes much manpower.
5 匠人 Craftsman
大岭下村真正懂得修筑土楼技术的工人少之又少，通常大家通晓土楼修筑的原理，但实际操作的匠人已慢慢消失。
There are few workers in Dalingxia village who really know how to build tulous. Most people in the village knew how to build a tuou, but the actual workers have gradually died or emigrated.
阿康叔作为少有的匠人，已经70多岁了，他从13岁起跟着老师傅学习修土楼的技术，据他回忆，当时他年轻，夯土不实，老师傅会把他夯过的土再重新夯一遍，就在这反反复复的训练中，他不但掌握了夯土的而技术，同时木工做的也异常精湛。在20多岁时，离开大岭下村去外地做木工谋生，直到40多岁，眼神不力，无法继续木工生涯，回到大岭下村，继续守护着自己的土楼和田园.
Uncle A Kangshu, who is more than 70, is one of the rare remaining craftsman. He started learning the technique of repairing tulous from the age of 13. According to his memories, the young A Kangshu rammed the earth, while the teacher pressed the soil that he had rammed. In the repeated training, he learned the techniques of tamping the soil as well as the woodwork, which he managed with virtuousity. When he was around 20, he left the Daling village to make a living as a woodworker. In his 40s, his eyes were not strong enough to continue his career in carpentry., so he went back to the Daling village, and continued to take up his fields and tulous.