Why it matters
A craft that speaks in shapes
Sunmao (榫卯) joins two pieces of wood by shaping one to fit into the other: the projecting part is the tenon (榫), the hollow is the mortise (卯).
In the Ming dynasty, makers working in dense hardwoods like huanghuali took the idea to extraordinary lengths. At a single corner a leg, an apron, a waist and a top frame meet, and all you see is one fine seam.
Every joint answers the same question: how do you make wood strong, beautiful, and able to move with the seasons without splitting? Once you can read the joints, you will never look at old furniture the same way again.