清代台灣傳統建築營造,往往以大木匠師為「大工師」,指導整個營造工程和組織。木工需先在地面製作預製構件,然後上鷹架安裝。而大木師傅的篙尺擔任了管制閘口的地位,確保每個預製構件尺寸的精確性。但篙尺的權威性則是透過一套 《 魯班經 》 及 《 魯班寸白簿 》 的尺寸與營造禁忌,籍由玄學暗含了建築美學觀與結構物理。大木匠師則正是透過玄學化和神秘化,鞏固其領導權,並確保其工程品質。日據時期,日本殖民統治者引進新建築風格與技術。日本鋼鐵工業的發展,促成木工工具的進步。雨淋板、雙刃鋸、洋釘,使得即使在鷹架上木料也能輕易加工,這雖然加速了營建速度,卻也改變台灣木匠的傳統工具。然而,新技術改變的是工業的營造發展方式與生產關係。這項夾帶被殖民遭過的現代化經驗,帶給日後台灣社會一個並不完整的發展。
The Taiwanese traditional construction was depended on the master of the Structure Carpenters called the “Big Master”, who guided the whole construction organization. At the construction process of timber structure, the carpenters had made precast member pieces on the lower level, and installed them to the eminence. Consequently, it needs a control gate to insure each precast member piece a precise size. The Pole-ruler of the “Big Master” is the control gate, thus it control all sizes. However ‘ the Pole-ruler was written down by a set measurements of metaphysics and building taboo from “LuBanJing” and “LuBanTsunBaiBu”, within which, not only construction physics but also esthetics metaphor were behind in it. The “Big Master” enforce the authority of leadership and insure his command system, just by means of metaphysics and mythicized discourse.