Ancient Chinese Furniture

China is one of the most ancient countries with traditional culture in the world. The long history gives the country glorious and brilliant culture with its own features. Among them, the culture of furniture shines like a diamond in the treasure house. With the ancestors’ hard work through the past five thousand years, the Chinese furniture had been created with unique styles of each period in history. From the researches of the ancient Chinese furniture, we can know the development of the society, the traditions, thoughts and the taste of the ancient Chinese people. The achievements of the arts of Chinese ancient furniture have great influence, slight or great, on the eastern and western culture. In the hierarchy of the furniture around the world, the ancient Chinese furniture play an important role.

Furniture before Tang Dynasty

In the beginning of the ancient China, people used to sit on the ground, and the furniture in a house included beds and short-legged tables. From Shang Dynasty to Han Dynasty, there was no much change in the style of living. Until the Northern and Southern Dynasty, the stools came into the life of the people at that time. However, the painting work started from Shang Dynasty, and we can see colorful textures painted with red and blue on the antiques from that time. It is a pity that there was no furniture left from that time. We can only see from the wall-paintings about the style of the furniture before Tang Dynasty. According to the researchers of the wall-paintings, the stools and beds of Tang Dynasty had carved patterns. The folding screens were really nice, stylish and elegant.

Song and Yuan Furniture

Song and Yuan Dynasty witnessed a fast development of the ancient Chinese furniture. There were high stools and tables, and the beds were well developed. Most of them were made with hard wood.  Exquisite patterns made the furniture more and more elegant in appearance. What’s more, the chairs at that time were made to suit the body curves of the people at that time. It was really comfortable to sit on a chair with such consideration. All in all, the style of Song furniture showed a tall and straight stance, they were exquisite and beautiful. There were no carvings all around the furniture but for the ends and edges.

Ming Furniture

The Ming dynasty started a new era of the furniture, featured by frame-structure furniture in minimal, even and flowing lines. The furniture was valued for their expensive wood, brief decoration and excellent craftsmanship. The texture of wood was fully used to bring out its natural beauty. There were elegant tables, cupboards, beds and backrests. Scented rosewood and red sandalwood were used for an aesthetic and elegant taste.

Qing Furniture

The furniture made during Qing Dynasty was modeled on Ming patterns in the beginning. However, with the burgeoning of Western lifestyle, the furniture became larger, animated and more magnificent than that of Ming Dynasty. Unlike Ming furniture which focused on simplicity, Qing furniture pieces were decked out in elaborate patterns with flamboyant colors and inlaid designs. Engraving became a popular art when people made furniture. The decoration during the Qing era was very important in making furniture, so was the paintings. The tables, beds, chairs and stools were painted with various designs like geometric patterns, commercial symbols, natural sceneries, animals and spiritual motifs.
 
All in all, the ancient Chinese furniture can be kept as antiques – you can sell the items out at very high price later. You can also decorate your rooms with the ancient Chinese style furniture, for the furniture pieces are elegance and enduring.