The Hōryū-ji Temple remain located in Nara prefecture Japan, is the oldest existing timber structure; dated from 607 AD. The temple’s construction is held up by structural elements called the Dougong, which are placed on top of large, firm and stable vertical pillars, to support the weight of upper stories, roofs and eaves. The Dougong is composed of overlapping wooden brackets; the ‘Dou’: a block placed on a column, creating space for multiple bow-shaped arms; ‘gong’, to be interlocked, which are then used to support a structural beam for other ‘Dou’ and ‘gong’s to be placed above it. This construction is repeated in an alternate manner, some by using mortise-tenon joints, in layering horizontal members above to the vertical members until
