»Äldre tiders människor hade inte
stolar och bord och visste sålunda inte
hur man borde uppföra sig [när det
gäller sådana möbler]. Deras manér på
sittmattor var däremot ytterst respekt-
fullt.«
(Zhang Zai, 1020–1078, Liku.)
I äldre tid satt kineserna på golvnära sittmattor, men
redan mot slutet av Han-dynastin hade klappstolar
kommit till Kina via nomaderna i norr. Under Tang
satt buddhistiska abbotar och höga ämbetsmän på
stolar med ryggstöd. Under Song hade det blivit van-
ligt att sitta på stolar och bänkar vid höga bord i alla
samhällsklasser.
Möblerna och deras placering var viktigt i det sociala
umgänget. Möblerna stod uppradade längs väggarna
i sträng symmetri och gästerna placerades i rang-
ordning. Det fanns även en hierarkisk ordning mellan
sittmöblerna.
Värden och de viktigaste gästerna satt på stolar med
rygg- och armstöd, mindre viktiga gäster på stolar
med enbart ryggstöd, de med lägst rang på pallar. På
bilder sitter kvinnorna ofta på pallar.
Möblerna var ibland mycket påkostade – lackerade
och med inlagd dekor. På 1500-talet började man
importera ädelträ från Sydostasien. Stolar, bord och
förvaringsmöbler producerades nu i dessa dyrbara
träslag. Den sparsmakade stilen i dessa ädelträpjäser
har i hög grad påverkat modern möbeldesign.
»People in olden times had neither
chairs nor tables and consequently did
not know how to comport themselves
[where such furniture is concerned].
Their deportment on seating mats,
however, was respectful in the extreme.«
(Zhang Zai, 1020-1078, Liku.)
In earlier times the Chinese used to sit on mats next
to the floor, but folding stools had already come to
China towards the end of the Han dynasty, through
the agency of the nomads to the north. During the
Tang, Buddhist abbots and senior officials sat on
chairs with backrests. During the Song it had become
common practice in all social classes to sit on chairs
and benches at high tables.
Furniture and its positioning was an important part
of social life. The furniture was lined up against the
walls in strict symmetry and the guests were seated
in ranking order. There was also a hierarchy of seat-
ing furniture. The host and the most important guests
sat on chairs with backrest and armrests, less exalted
guests sat on chairs with backrests only, and the
people lowest in rank sat on stools. Women are often
pictured sitting on stools.
Furniture was sometimes very expensive – lacquered
and decorated with inlay work. In the 16th century
hardwood began to be imported from Southeast
Asia. Chairs, tables and furniture for storing things
were now made of these costly woods. The austerity
of these hardwood items has deeply influenced
modern furniture design.
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