高的防(fang)腐木(mu)涼(liang)亭--侗(dong)族鼓樓，鼓樓是侗(dong)鄉具(ju)有地域特點的建筑物，流行于貴(gui)州、湖南、廣西(xi)地區。鼓樓以(yi)防(fang)腐木(mu)木(mu)鑿榫銜接，頂梁柱(zhu)撥地凌空，排枋縱(zong)橫交錯，上(shang)下吻(wen)合(he)，采用杠桿原(yuan)理，層層支撐而上(shang)。
鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)樓通體(ti)全是(shi)防腐(fu)(fu)木木質結(jie)構，不用(yong)一釘(ding)一卯，由于結(jie)構嚴密堅固，可達數百年(nian)不腐(fu)(fu)不斜。在古代侗族(zu)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)樓還有(you)作為開會場所、外敵入侵鳴鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)警示等作用(yong)。
鼓樓以杉木鑿榫銜接，頂梁柱撥地凌空(kong)，排枋縱橫(heng)交(jiao)錯(cuo)，上(shang)下吻(wen)合，采用杠桿原理，層(ceng)(ceng)層(ceng)(ceng)支撐而(er)上(shang)。
鼓樓通體(ti)全(quan)是(shi)本質結(jie)構，不(bu)用(yong)一釘一鉚，由于結(jie)構嚴(yan)密堅(jian)固，可達數百年不(bu)朽不(bu)斜。這充(chong)分表現(xian)了(le)侗(dong)族人民中能(neng)工(gong)巧(qiao)匠(jiang)建(jian)筑技藝的高超。
建(jian)(jian)造鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)的(de)主要大梁柱(zhu)、照面(mian)坊，是經過(guo)族中長(chang)輩(bei)年高(gao)具有(you)威望(wang)的(de)老人(ren)選定(ding)，木(mu)材(cai)優(you)良(liang)、粗大，高(gao)度均勻，樹(shu)齡(ling)古老，方可作為鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)建(jian)(jian)造用材(cai)。未(wei)優(you)先標(biao)(biao)記，其他用材(cai)不得取用。可見打上(shang)標(biao)(biao)記的(de)杉(shan)木(mu)，自然是“杉(shan)海”之王了。據(ju)傳說；鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)一詞含義，應(ying)該(gai)是侗(dong)寨古時(shi)放鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)之樓(lou)(lou)。因此，有(you)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)則有(you)樓(lou)(lou)，有(you)樓(lou)(lou)則置鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)，后來人(ren)民習慣，俗稱鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)。鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)以樺(hua)樹(shu)作身，名(ming)為“樺(hua)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)”，安放于(yu)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)高(gao)層。在侗(dong)族歷史上(shang)，凡有(you)重大事宜商議，起款定(ding)約，抵(di)御外來官兵騷擾，均擊鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)以號召(zhao)群(qun)眾。由寨中“頭人(ren)”登樓(lou)(lou)擊鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)，咚咚鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)聲響(xiang)徹村寨山谷，就能迅速把人(ren)集中起來。無(wu)事是不能隨便登樓(lou)(lou)擊鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)的(de)。
鼓樓(lou)下端呈(cheng)方(fang)形，四周(zhou)置有長(chang)凳，中間(jian)有一大火塘；樓(lou)門(men)前為(wei)全寨逢年過節的娛(yu)樂(le)(le)場(chang)地。每當夏日炎(yan)炎(yan)，男女老(lao)少至(zhi)此乘涼，寒冬臘月來這里圍火，唱歌(ge)彈琵琶、講故(gu)事(shi)。侗(dong)寨有坐(zuo)鼓樓(lou)的習(xi)俗。特別是春節期間(jian)，村(cun)村(cun)寨寨聚集(ji)鼓樓(lou)廣場(chang)，吹蘆笙，“哆耶”對歌(ge)作樂(le)(le)。或以侗(dong)族(zu)民間(jian)傳統故(gu)事(shi)為(wei)題材，自編自扮侗(dong)戲，登臺演(yan)唱。
據(ju)清(qing)(qing)代雍正年(nian)間有(you)(you)資料(liao)記載：侗(dong)(dong)人“以巨木埋(mai)地作樓(lou)(lou)高數丈，歌者夜則(ze)緣(yuan)宿其上(shang)……”。侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)建(jian)筑是侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)特有(you)(you)的民(min)族(zu)文(wen)化象(xiang)征和標志(zhi)。哪里有(you)(you)侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)，哪里就(jiu)有(you)(you)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)，只有(you)(you)侗(dong)(dong)寨才(cai)有(you)(you)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)，有(you)(you)了鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)才(cai)算侗(dong)(dong)寨。鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)是侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)人民(min)娛樂、儀事的公共場(chang)所，為(wei)侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)多元文(wen)化之載體(ti)。侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)一般始建(jian)于明(ming)末清(qing)(qing)初，清(qing)(qing)朝(chao)中(zhong)葉尤為(wei)盛行。建(jian)造(zao)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)的主(zhu)要大柱(zhu)、枋(fang)梁需(xu)經(jing)過族(zu)中(zhong)德高望重(zhong)的老人選定(ding)，方可作為(wei)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)建(jian)造(zao)用材。樓(lou)(lou)中(zhong)高層的中(zhong)心位置(zhi)一樺樹(shu)牛皮大鼓(gu)，凡有(you)(you)重(zhong)大事宜商議，起款定(ding)約，則(ze)擊鼓(gu)以號召群眾。
鼓樓(lou)建筑系木質的(de)四柱(zhu)貫(guan)頂(ding)，多(duo)柱(zhu)支架(jia)八角密檐(yan)塔(ta)式結構(gou)。“神奇(qi)的(de)建筑師”憑一(yi)(yi)根丈桿，一(yi)(yi)支筆，錯綜復雜的(de)金瓜梁方、斗(dou)拱支柱(zhu)，以杉木開糟穿(chuan)榫和接而成，不用一(yi)(yi)釘一(yi)(yi)鉚，銜接不隙，絲(si)毫不差，牢固嚴(yan)謹，經風霜(shuang)，歷雨露，百年(nian)不倒。更為罕見者是神奇(qi)的(de)獨柱(zhu)鼓樓(lou)。為了裝飾(shi)、防腐，在鼓樓(lou)的(de)外額上抹粉(fen)描繪或白灰泥塑龍鳳(feng)鳥獸，古今人物(wu)，以及侗族生(sheng)活風情的(de)油飾(shi)圖案。琳(lin)瑯滿目，栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)生(sheng)。形式生(sheng)動(dong)活潑，內容豐富多(duo)彩。
鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)老(lao)年人(ren)(ren)教歌(ge)、青年人(ren)(ren)唱(chang)歌(ge)，幼年人(ren)(ren)學歌(ge)，民間(jian)老(lao)藝人(ren)(ren)傳(chuan)歌(ge)編侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)戲的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)集中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)場所(suo)。侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)鄉被(bei)稱(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)“歌(ge)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)海洋”，是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)名副其(qi)實(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)族(zu)大(da)歌(ge)不(bu)(bu)僅曲調優美動聽，而(er)(er)且在曲式上(shang)(shang)緊密完整。演(yan)唱(chang)形(xing)(xing)式活潑多(duo)樣，特別是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)合唱(chang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)自由和諧地(di)出(chu)現多(duo)音(yin)部(bu)(bu)，在我(wo)國各(ge)民族(zu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)民歌(ge)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)罕見(jian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)戲就是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在大(da)歌(ge)基(ji)礎上(shang)(shang)發(fa)展起(qi)來的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)，為(wei)廣大(da)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)族(zu)人(ren)(ren)民所(suo)喜(xi)聞樂見(jian)。從(cong)外觀上(shang)(shang)來看,侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)族(zu)鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)極富有(you)視覺(jue)效果的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)建筑。一(yi)(yi)座建好的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou),樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)頂(ding)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)連串葫蘆(lu)形(xing)(xing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)頂(ding)尖,直刺(ci)蒼穹,猶如(ru)塔尖一(yi)(yi)樣。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)部(bu)(bu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)層(ceng)(ceng)層(ceng)(ceng)疊(die)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou),形(xing)(xing)如(ru)寶塔的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)身。樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)檐一(yi)(yi)般為(wei)六角(jiao)、八角(jiao)、四(si)角(jiao),六角(jiao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)俗稱(cheng)(cheng)“六面倒(dao)水(shui)”,每(mei)一(yi)(yi)分(fen)水(shui)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)突出(chu)部(bu)(bu)分(fen)都(dou)有(you)翹角(jiao),它的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)重(zhong)檐層(ceng)(ceng)層(ceng)(ceng)疊(die)疊(die),從(cong)上(shang)(shang)而(er)(er)下,一(yi)(yi)層(ceng)(ceng)比一(yi)(yi)層(ceng)(ceng)大(da)。鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)底(di)部(bu)(bu),多(duo)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)正(zheng)方形(xing)(xing),四(si)周有(you)寬大(da)結實(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)長凳,供人(ren)(ren)歇坐。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)個或(huo)方或(huo)圓(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)火塘(tang)。從(cong)基(ji)本的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)輪(lun)廓和整體(ti)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)形(xing)(xing)式上(shang)(shang)來說,鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)形(xing)(xing)態(tai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)顯著(zhu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)特點是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),大(da)體(ti)上(shang)(shang)在不(bu)(bu)脫(tuo)離杉樹原(yuan)型(xing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)基(ji)礎上(shang)(shang)揉(rou)合漢族(zu)密檐多(duo)層(ceng)(ceng)佛塔的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)造型(xing),形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)下大(da)上(shang)(shang)小的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)塔形(xing)(xing)。鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)形(xing)(xing)態(tai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)第(di)二個特征(zheng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)它的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)高(gao)密度(du)重(zhong)檐疊(die)加的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)體(ti)塔身。這是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)族(zu)鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)同漢族(zu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)重(zhong)檐樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)塔明顯不(bu)(bu)同的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方。鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)形(xing)(xing)態(tai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)第(di)三個特征(zheng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)族(zu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)在重(zhong)檐數(shu)(shu)上(shang)(shang)皆為(wei)單數(shu)(shu)。最(zui)少的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)有(you)1層(ceng)(ceng),最(zui)多(duo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)達21層(ceng)(ceng)。這是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)由于(yu)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)族(zu)把奇數(shu)(shu)視之為(wei)吉祥之數(shu)(shu)。
座座鼓樓高聳于侗寨之中，巍然挺立(li)，氣概雄偉。飛閣垂檐(yan)層(ceng)層(ceng)而上(shang)呈寶塔形(xing)。瓦檐(yan)上(shang)彩(cai)繪或雕(diao)塑著山水、花卉、龍鳳、飛鳥和古(gu)裝人物，云(yun)騰霧繞，五彩(cai)繽紛。從江縣高增侗寨鼓樓高達二(er)十(shi)余(yu)米，十(shi)三層(ceng)次；黎平(ping)紀(ji)堂侗寨一寨就有三個鼓樓，侗寨風光可說十(shi)足了。
追溯鼓樓的(de)(de)起(qi)源(yuan),也許要追究越僚人的(de)(de)“巢居”了。關(guan)于中(zhong)國(guo)南方古(gu)代民族的(de)(de)巢居,古(gu)文(wen)獻中(zhong)亦多有(you)(you)記載(zai)。張華的(de)(de)《博(bo)物志》中(zhong)有(you)(you)“南越巢居”。《魏書》中(zhong)有(you)(you)僚人“依樹積木,以(yi)居其(qi)上,名曰‘干(gan)欄(lan)’”。不過,巢居只是還未完(wan)全(quan)開化的(de)(de)民族簡陋的(de)(de)住(zhu)屋而已(yi)，但從起(qi)源(yuan)上看,所有(you)(you)干(gan)欄(lan)式木構(gou)建筑都同巢居有(you)(you)淵源(yuan)關(guan)系,鼓樓當然也不例外。
鼓(gu)樓(lou)始建于(yu)(yu)何時？由于(yu)(yu)侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)(zu)無文(wen)字記載，無從考究。不(bu)過，侗(dong)(dong)鄉世(shi)代相傳(chuan)：從有(you)侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)(zu)村寨(zhai)的(de)時候起，就有(you)鼓(gu)樓(lou)了。據清代雍正年間有(you)關(guan)資料記載：侗(dong)(dong)人(ren)“以(yi)巨木(mu)埋地(di)作樓(lou)高數丈，歌者夜則緣宿其(qi)上……”。可(ke)見明末清初開始見于(yu)(yu)史冊了，距今約三(san)個多世(shi)紀。侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)(zu)人(ren)民(min)自古以(yi)來就有(you)集中居(ju)住的(de)特點，較大的(de)侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)上千(qian)戶人(ren)家(jia)，小者三(san)、五十戶。侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)鼓(gu)樓(lou)一(yi)般(ban)是按族(zu)(zu)姓(xing)建造，每個族(zu)(zu)姓(xing)一(yi)座鼓(gu)樓(lou)。如果(guo)侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)族(zu)(zu)姓(xing)多，往往一(yi)寨(zhai)之中同時有(you)幾個鼓(gu)樓(lou)并立，上述紀堂侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)的(de)三(san)座鼓(gu)樓(lou)即其(qi)一(yi)例，這在侗(dong)(dong)鄉是常見的(de)了。
我心明亮 
