DOUGONG

Dougong represent as China’s most unique structural element of the interlocking brackets.

Dougong used as for roof structure that joining the pillar and the column through the frame of the roof.

The composition and the shape of the wooden of the dougong is really neat until it is born into something strength structure of the roof design.
The higher the amount of the dougong, the higher its strength, which can allows the structures to be elastic and withstand damage from earthquakes.
 The complication of the composition can manage to supports essential to the timber frame structure of traditional Chinese building because of these walls in these structure are not load-bearing.

The function of the dougong is to provide increased support for the weight of the horizontal beams that span the vertical columns by transferring the weight on horizontal beams over a larger area to the vertical column. ( Just same as the concept transferring load by the frame structure, I guess) 

 

•Multiple Dou Gong made these structures very earthquake-resistant.

•It can hold the wood structure together even though brick walls would collapse in the same earthquake.

•This system helped ancient buildings to survived for a long time.

It can be found at;

~It placed between the top of a column and cross beam.

~Can be found only in the most magnificent buildings such as palace and temple halls.

~The number of layers of these bracket structures depended on the importance of the buildings.

MANDALA

According to my reading at the web, mandala is meant is Sanskrit as a ‘circle’

It is

~ used for Hindu and Buddhist religion tradition. The shape is square with 4 gates at the center point each side of the square

~The gates are guarded by four angry doorkeepers( so that only the rightful disciples can get through)

~ The four circles on the Mandala represent as the enlightenment. Which is the meditationg person must gain before she can enter the illuminated palace (belief)

            ~four circles

                        ~fire of wisdom – the outermost of the circle which include ‘purifying fire’

                        ~vajra circle – the diamond circle which means as ‘strength and fearlessness’

                        ~tombs – 8 tombs smbolises 8 states of consciousness. ‘ which the person must go beyond.

                        ~lotus circle – express the open state of the devotion, compulsory to enter the palace

~symbolises the original crystalline purity when it is connected with the Buddha Vajrasattva.

~If  you can see at the center of the shape is a lotus blossom with 8 petals.

~Each petals representing as symbolic deities ; 4 female and 4 male.

~The lotus itself used as a symbol of the teaching of Buddha. The plant standing with the roots in the mud, yet raising its blossom towards the light. So that you can be like :

            ~ right beliefs

            ~right speech

            ~right effort

            ~right thinking

and others which mostly will lead you into the positive way 

Colour symbolises of the Mandala

~White - Vairocana: The delusion of ignorance becomes the wisdom of reality.

~Yellow - Ratnasambhava: The delusion of pride becomes the wisdom of sameness.

~Red - Amitabha: The delusion of attachment becomes the wisdom of discernment.

~Green - Amoghasiddhi: The delusion of jealousy becomes the wisdom of accomplishment. 

~Blue - Akshobhya: The delusion of anger becomes the mirror like wisdom.