In a new study, researchers unravel the long-standing “Six Dynasties Bracket Mystery”—the abrupt decline of projecting arms in ancient Chinese bracket sets—by linking the shift to climate change. Drawing on around 250 archaeological cases and paleoclimate data, the team shows that extreme cooling and drying between the 3rd and 6th centuries prompted a major design shift: shorter eaves for greater solar exposure. This functional response, long interpreted through the lens of aesthetics or