# What is this ancient Chinese building?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-ancient-chinese-building/83448>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 24, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-ancient-chinese-building/83448 "2001-09-24T03:13:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-ancient-chinese-building/83448/1 "2001-09-24T03:13:54Z")

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I read a story about a famous ancient Chinese architect (or maybe engineer) which is apparently true, but I cannot remember what the building in the story was. I do know that it still exists today.

The story is as follows:

Brilliant architect is commissioned to design this building. He (being so brilliant) calculates the exact number of bricks required to build it, and writes the number down for a messenger to take to the brick-making guy. The messenger suggests that perhaps he should order a few extra, in case he mis-calculated. As a joke, the architect adds one brick to the order.

Apparently, this building still stands, with the one extra brick precariously sitting on the middle of a ledge.

Anyone know what the heck I’m talking about here? Anyone know of any websites with pictures of this building?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-ancient-chinese-building/83448/2 "2001-09-24T03:25:27Z")

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Forget the building and the architect, I want the crew that can move a load of bricks and build a wall without breaking anything.

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**Author:** ![Mirage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mirage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirage)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-ancient-chinese-building/83448/3 "2001-09-24T03:50:31Z")

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I remember hearing that story on a ‘Discover in the Classroom’ episode on China that I watched while stalling going to work because of it’s lack of commercials. I remember that it was a fort, on one of the spice trails at the western end of the country I believe. I want to say the ‘Jade Gate’ but I have a suspision that it was part of a segment that came just before it in the program.

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**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-ancient-chinese-building/83448/4 "2001-09-24T04:00:38Z")

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It seems to be a fortress in Jiayuguan on the Great Wall, according to this site:

[http://www.ipix-china.com/greatwall/greatwalk-e/logs/part3/part3.htm](http://www.ipix-china.com/greatwall/greatwalk-e/logs/part3/part3.htm)

It appears to be down now, but here’s google’s [cached copy](http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:JlsktLnnSNE:www.ipix-china.com/greatwall/greatwalk-e/logs/part3/part3.htm+brick+china+legend++-tea+exact&hl=en).

The brick legend is about half way down the page.  
BTW, I found this with a google search on [“brick china legend -tea exact”](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=brick+china+legend++-tea+exact).

Arjuna34