On Sat, 03 Jun 2006 14:45:35 -0700, charlie b
wrote:

I'm becoming more and more aware of how different the
Chinese approach to joinery is, relative to the "western"
approach - specifically the A&C approach. The Chinese
start with the entire finished piece and, when ever possible,
integrate multiple functions in their joinery. In A&C design,
it seems each joint is seen in isolation - this piece needs to
be connected to that piece right here - will worry about the
next joint after this one's figured out.

I thought I'd read somewhere quite some time ago that the kind of
joinery they use(d) arose from lack of good adhesives. Maybe that's
not true. Anyway, from the little time I spent looking at sketchs and
pictures of those joints, they look self supporting. That's precisely
what's needed when there's no Titebond (or hide glue) available. I
don't think either approach is wrong, it's just the way these things
developed.

In my case, I particulary like the triple miter joint they do. Very
elegant looking. The grain flows a lot better that way. That said,
if you figured out how they did it and began using it in your work, it
WILL look different. And out of place if you're making something from
traditional western furniture (A&C and Shaker for example)