According to legend, Lu Ban was the smartest and most capable craftsman in ancient China. His original name was Gongshuiban. Because he was from the State of Lu at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, Luban became the name of his descendants.
Once, he came to Gusu City in the state of Wu, a paradise on earth, and indeed lived up to his reputation. The ancient city towers, arranged in sequence, tea houses and taverns, are bustling with activity. Lu Ban’s travel experience doubled, and he was fascinated by the characteristics of Suzhou architecture. Suddenly, a loud noise came. Lu Ban followed the sound and saw a newly built pagoda towering high on a green field in front of him. A group of people were gathered in front of the tower, clamoring and not knowing what to do. He slowly walked over and pushed aside the onlookers. He saw an old man wearing silk, a high crown, and a sachet tied around his waist, who was angry, with veins bulging and eyebrows raised in astonishment, showing a strong fighting spirit. A middle-aged man crouched across from the old man, holding his head with both hands and looking dejected. Luban was so strange that he only found out the truth after asking.
That old man is a famous local millionaire who, in order to accumulate good deeds and conduct virtue, plans to build a pagoda that will be passed down through the ages.
This project was undertaken by the craftsman. After nearly three years of hard work and careful planning, the pagoda was finally built using wooden transportation. But somehow, although the pagoda is built, it always tilts when viewed horizontally or vertically. After measurement, the pagoda did tilt nearly ten degrees. People shook their heads and looked at each other, pointing and discussing. The wealthy man believed that building a pagoda was a counter attack and was very angry, which also damaged his moral integrity. Therefore, he personally sought out craftsmen to settle accounts: either demolish and rebuild the pagoda, or straighten it up, otherwise he would be sent to the government for strict punishment.
This has really stumped the craftsmen. If they want to demolish and rebuild, they will be selling their children and losing everything and unable to bear the economic pressure; If the tower is straightened, it cannot be done because although it is made of wood, it still weighs about a million pounds, and we can only sigh at the tower!
Luban carefully looked around the pagoda, then glanced at the helpless craftsman, and walked over to comfort him, saying, “Don’t worry, just find me some wood. I don’t need a month alone to straighten it up
The craftsman listened with half belief and half doubt, but there was no other way. So he carried the wood and waited with a glimmer of hope. And Lu Ban, on the other hand, did not allow anyone to intervene and help. He cut the carried wood into many slanted wooden wedges and knocked them one by one from the slanted side of the tower top, gradually raising the slanted side. After working in the morning and dark for a month like this, the pagoda stood upright.
The craftsman gratefully asked Lu Ban, “Your Highness, why did you manage to make the pagoda stand upright with this remedy
Luban replied, “As the inclined tower is made of wood and has a through bucket structure, the pulling and pulling between its components are relatively strong, forming an organic whole. Therefore, it can be straightened by using wooden wedges. The wooden wedges are also inclined, making it easier to push them inward and having the function of ‘pulling a thousand pounds by four or two’. After being pushed in, they can also lift the height of the inclined surface of the tower, so that the tower will no longer tilt
