For example, Liang Shi Bridge in Tiantai Mountain, Zhejiang Province, a stone arch bridge (Xianren Bridge) in Guixi, Jiangxi Province, a "single-plank bridge" formed by natural fallen tree trunks along the river, or a natural "suspension bridge" formed by winding vines on both sides.
Inspired by these natural bridges, human beings constantly imitate nature in the process of survival.
At first, some wooden bridges were built on the river with a piece of wood, or on the ditches around clan settlements (the bridge was originally called "beam", probably because this beam passed by), or a stone pedal was set up in a narrow and shallow stream to slightly emerge from the water, forming a simple "jumping pier" Liang Shi bridge (the original bridge was often imitated in gardens and called "pavilion").
These "single-plank bridges" and "jumping pier bridges" are the most primitive bridges of human architecture. Later, with the development of social productive forces, it gradually evolved from low-level to high-level, and then gradually produced various bridges across the air.
Bridges in China have gone through four stages of development.
The first stage is mainly in the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period, including the previous historical era, which is the founding period of the ancient bridge.
At this time, in addition to the original wooden bridge and Tingbu bridge, there are mainly two forms of bridge: beam bridge and pontoon bridge.
At that time, due to the backward level of productivity, most of them could only be built in areas with flat terrain, narrow rivers and gentle water flow, and bridges could only be wooden beams, so the technical problems were relatively easy to solve.
On the other hand, pontoons are often used in rivers with wide water surface and fast flowing water.
The second stage is dominated by Qin and Han dynasties, including the Warring States and the Three Kingdoms, which is the period of creation and development of ancient bridges.
The Qin and Han Dynasties were a brilliant development stage in the history of Chinese architecture. At this time, not only the bricks of artificial building materials were invented, but also the arch coupon structure with the theme of masonry structure system was created, which created the prerequisite for the emergence of arch bridges later.
The appearance of ironware in the Warring States period also promoted the multi-faceted utilization of stone materials in buildings, thus adding new components such as stone pillars, Liang Shi and stone bridge surfaces to the log beam bridge.
Not only that, but also its great significance lies in the stone arch bridge came into being.
The establishment of stone arch bridge has played an epoch-making role in the history of ancient bridge construction in China, which is not only practical, but also economical and beautiful.
The great development of Liang Shi stone arch bridge not only reduces the maintenance cost and prolongs the service life of the bridge, but also improves the scientific level of structural theory and construction technology.
Therefore, the use of building stone and the emergence of arch coupon technology in Qin and Han dynasties are actually a major revolution in the history of bridge construction.
Therefore, according to some documents and archaeological data, about the Eastern Han Dynasty, four basic bridge types, namely, beam bridge, pontoon bridge, cable bridge and arch bridge, were formed.
The third stage is dominated by the Tang and Song Dynasties, including the Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties, which is the heyday of the development of the ancient bridge.
Compared with Qin and Han Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties had stronger national strength, and Tang and Song Dynasties achieved long-term stability and unity. The level of industry and commerce, transportation and science and technology was very developed, and it was the most advanced country in the world at that time.
After the Eastern Jin Dynasty, because a large number of aristocratic bureaucrats moved to the south, the economic center moved from the Yellow River basin to the Yangtze River basin, which led to the great development of the economy and technology in the southeast water network area, which led to the great development of the bridge.
Therefore, many bridges that attracted worldwide attention came into being at this time, such as Zhao Zhouqiao, which was an open-shouldered stone arch bridge initiated by Li Chun, a stonemason in Sui Dynasty, Hongqiao, a stoplog wooden arch bridge invented by abandoned soldiers in Northern Song Dynasty, and Wan 'an Bridge in Quanzhou, which was founded by recitation, and Xiangzi Bridge in Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, which was a combination of Liang Shi Bridge and telescopic pontoon bridge in Southern Song Dynasty.
These bridges are very famous in the history of bridges in the world, especially in Zhao Zhouqiao. Seven centuries later, similar bridges appeared in other countries in the world.
Throughout the history of Chinese bridges, almost all major inventions and achievements, as well as bridges that can compete for the first place in the world, were produced at this time.
The fourth stage is Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, which is the saturation period of bridge development, and there are almost no major innovations and technological breakthroughs.
At this time, the main achievement is to repair and transform some ancient bridges, leaving many construction documents for bridge construction, providing a lot of written materials for future generations.
In addition, some arduous projects, such as Wannian Bridge in Cheng Nan, Jiangxi and Panjiang Bridge in Guizhou, were completed.
At the same time, Sichuan, Yunnan and other places have built many cable bridges, and the construction technology of cable bridges has also improved.
In the late Qing Dynasty, that is, 188 1 year, with the opening of the first railway in China, another technological revolution in the history of Chinese bridges was ushered in.