We appreciate the history and culture in our projects around the globe, (and) in China we always focus on functionality first,” Weng said in a phone interview. The Chinese building system is based on ratios and proportions,” he wrote. “It draws on thousands of years of observations, on which dimensional proportions were structurally suitable and practical, coupled with a growing understanding of which proportions were aesthetically pleasing.” As one of the most recognizable symbols of Chinese architecture, the use of dougong always references not just Chinese architecture, but China (itself).” The famous Wooden Pagoda in Shanxi province’s Yingxian County is one of countless buildings believed to have benefited from this architectural innovation. Built in 1056, the pagoda straddles the Datong Batin’s seismic belt. Yet it has withstood countless earthquakes, even when newer nearby buildings have collapsed.

Over time, dougong has become as much about decoration as engineering, according to Nancy Steinhardt, professor of East Asian art at the University of Pennsylvania.Chinese soldiers salute under the national flag in front of the Chinese pavilion at the World Expo 2010. PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Historian Klaus Zwerger traces the origins of dougong in his book “Wood and Wood Joints: Building Traditions of Europe, Japan, and China.”