What does the lintel mean?

The meaning of lintel: refers to the beam on the upper part of the door frame above the main entrance, which is generally made of heavy solid wood.

In ancient times, according to the organizational system, only government officials could mark the lintel above the main entrance, and ordinary people were not allowed to have lintels. Even if you are a big family and have no official status, you can't mark the lintel on the door of the house.

The lintel is generally counted as two, four and twelve. To put it simply, there are two doorposts on the lintel, corresponding to officials of grades five to seven; There are four doorposts on the lintel, corresponding to officials above level 4; As for the twelve doorways, they can only be used at the level above the prince. In other words, even if it is not the king's relatives, he dare not build three doorways and embed twelve doorways. There are also requirements in front of the door. Officials pay attention to the fact that the door is higher than the road, so there must be steps in front of the door, but this step cannot be repaired casually, and it must be done according to the system.

The steps in front of the six or seven officials shall not be higher than the second level, the steps in front of the five senses shall not be higher than the third level, and so on, but at most they shall not exceed the eighth level. More than eight is nine, nine is the pole of the number, representing the vertex, and no one can use it except the emperor. With the promotion of officials, the front steps will gradually increase. A word that scholars often say is "stepping into the body", and "stepping into the body" comes from here.

Make sentences by lintel

1. The lintel in ancient buildings structurally supports the weight of the whole door frame and is also an important decorative element on the portal.

2. The lintel is one of the most important components of the building, which not only bears the weight of the door, but also plays the role of beautification and decoration.

3. In the traditional culture of China, the lintel is often regarded as a symbol of a family or institution, highlighting its status and importance.

4. The production technology of lintel has a very important influence on the style and character of the whole building, which can reflect the architect's design level and aesthetic taste.

Some decorative patterns and cultural symbols are usually carved on the ancient lintel, which adds a cultural and historical charm to the whole building.