[Chen06]

What were chinese houses interiors look like in ancient china, such as the Han or Tang dynasty? Did they have wooden floors or stone floors, what kind of furniture layout, what room layout did they use,how and where did they sit,eat,etc... Do you think that the interiors from earlier chinese dynasties such as Tang would look more similiar to Japanese interiors than imperial interiors in the qing? I have seen pictures of houses from the Ming and Qing but i think that han and tang houses would differ alot from ming and qing- such as the move torwards hardwood furniture.

This post has been edited by Chen06: 25 September 2006 - 11:53 PM

[General_Zhaoyun]

Chen06, on Sep 26 2006, 08:01 AM, said:

What were chinese houses interiors look like in ancient china, such as the Han or Tang dynasty? Did they have wooden floors or stone floors, what kind of furniture layout, what room layout did they use,how and where did they sit,eat,etc... Do you think that the interiors from earlier chinese dynasties such as Tang would look more similiar to Japanese interiors than imperial interiors in the qing? I have seen pictures of houses from the Ming and Qing but i think that han and tang houses would differ alot from ming and qing- such as the move torwards hardwood furniture.

To judge a chinese building (architecture) according to the dynasty period, you have to look at the decoration of the roof-top. Chinese buildings are essentially wooden framework architecture. Chairs were only introduced during age of fragmentation and become popular only during Sui/Tang dynasty. Before that, chinese used to sit/kneel on the matt or floor without sitting on the chair.

I don't know much about Han dynasty architecture, but in the movie Han Wu Da Di, you can roughly gauge how it looks like.

To look at Tang architecture, just take a look at Japanese architecture b'cos they hold much similarity. The Japanese architecture is clearly a replica of Tang architecture. They usually have rather simple framework linings (without decoration), and the color is usually simplistic brown color. There is also a sparrow wing on top of the roof.

The Ming and Qing period has moved towards a more colored elaborate decoration on the roof top. To look at Ming architecture, just take a look at Forbidden city.

[Chen06]

General_Zhaoyun, on Sep 27 2006, 05:26 AM, said:

To judge a chinese building (architecture) according to the dynasty period, you have to look at the decoration of the roof-top. Chinese buildings are essentially wooden framework architecture. Chairs were only introduced during age of fragmentation and become popular only during Sui/Tang dynasty. Before that, chinese used to sit/kneel on the matt or floor without sitting on the chair.

I don't know much about Han dynasty architecture, but in the movie Han Wu Da Di, you can roughly gauge how it looks like.

To look at Tang architecture, just take a look at Japanese architecture b'cos they hold much similarity. The Japanese architecture is clearly a replica of Tang architecture. They usually have rather simple framework linings (without decoration), and the color is usually simplistic brown color. There is also a sparrow wing on top of the roof.

The Ming and Qing period has moved towards a more colored elaborate decoration on the roof top. To look at Ming architecture, just take a look at Forbidden city.

Oh, i see. So who introduced chairs to China during the Age of Fragmentation?(or were they an indigenous invention). Also, did they sit/kneel on a mat or floor similiar to what the Japanese do? If so, I guess the Japanese might have picked this up(as well as many other things) from the Tang Chinese. Considering they sat on the floor, I doubt that the floors would be made of stone like many Ming and Qing dynasty houses i have seen. Do you think they would incorporate wooden floors or maybe spread something similiar to tatami mats on the floor? Since chairs only became popular starting at the Sui and Tang dynasties, what do you believe caused the popularity of sitting in chairs instead of sitting/kneeling on a mat or on the floor? Just the fact that they were introduced right before the Sui or something else? Did they still sit/kneel on mats or the floor during the Tang or did the chair totally replace this? I guess that the use of chairs continued after the Tang as I have not seen examples of people sitting or kneeling on the floor in any post-tang art or anything of the sort. As for Tang architecture, I did know that the Japanese architecture was very similiar, but, to what degree is what i do not know. I have observed that the exterior was mostly identical to the Tang, but, interior wise, did the Tang Chinese incorporate similiar interior characteristics to Japanese architecture such as wooden floors/tatamis, sliding doors/shoji screens and holes in the floors used to hold pots to make tea during tea ceremony?Also, do you know of any example of ancient Chinese houses being raised off the ground a few feet through use of poles or a platform(like some Japanese buildings) instead of being built flat on the ground? It seems that most ancient Chinese houses were made almost entirely of wood; When did they start using stone/bricks more extensively?

Thanks in advance for all your help

This post has been edited by Chen06: 27 September 2006 - 04:29 PM

[Lychee]

Chen06, on Sep 27 2006, 02:25 PM, said:

Oh, i see. So who introduced chairs to China during the Age of Fragmentation?(or were they an indigenous invention). Also, did they sit/kneel on a mat or floor similiar to what the Japanese do? If so, I guess the Japanese might have picked this up(as well as many other things) from the Tang Chinese. Considering they sat on the floor, I doubt that the floors would be made of stone like many Ming and Qing dynasty houses i have seen. Do you think they would incorporate wooden floors or maybe spread something similiar to tatami mats on the floor? Since chairs only became popular starting at the Sui and Tang dynasties, what do you believe caused the popularity of sitting in chairs instead of sitting/kneeling on a mat or on the floor? Just the fact that they were introduced right before the Sui or something else? Did they still sit/kneel on mats or the floor during the Tang or did the chair totally replace this? I guess that the use of chairs continued after the Tang as I have not seen examples of people sitting or kneeling on the floor in any post-tang art or anything of the sort. As for Tang architecture, I did know that the Japanese architecture was very similiar, but, to what degree is what i do not know. I have observed that the exterior was mostly identical to the Tang, but, interior wise, did the Tang Chinese incorporate similiar interior characteristics to Japanese architecture such as wooden floors/tatamis, sliding doors/shoji screens and holes in the floors used to hold pots to make tea during tea ceremony?Also, do you know of any example of ancient Chinese houses being raised off the ground a few feet through use of poles or a platform(like some Japanese buildings) instead of being built flat on the ground? It seems that most ancient Chinese houses were made almost entirely of wood; When did they start using stone/bricks more extensively?

Thanks in advance for all your help

I think most of the houses would be made of earth and wood. The floors would be tile. I don't believe Chinese people sit on the floor, and Japanese probaby learnt that from the Koreans, who sit on the floor. There is no hole in the floor to cook tea, they cook it maybe on a stone or mud stove . I know some ethnic Chinese houses raise their houses on poles, forgot which ones though. I think before chairs, they sat on stools but I'm not so sure about that. All the doors have hinges.

[Chen06]

Lychee, on Sep 27 2006, 05:34 PM, said:

I think most of the houses would be made of earth and wood. The floors would be tile. I don't believe Chinese people sit on the floor, and Japanese probaby learnt that from the Koreans, who sit on the floor. There is no hole in the floor to cook tea, they cook it maybe on a stone or mud stove . I know some ethnic Chinese houses raise their houses on poles, forgot which ones though. I think before chairs, they sat on stools but I'm not so sure about that. All the doors have hinges.

Well, according to General Zhaoyun, the ancient chinese did sit/kneel on the floor/mats- and im going to go with him on this one since he is an admin and all. Im pretty sure he knows what he's talkin about I think i have seen instances where doors would fold and kind of stack up(though i guess that is hinged,maybe not)

[Lychee]

Chen06, on Sep 27 2006, 04:15 PM, said:

Well, according to General Zhaoyun, the ancient chinese did sit/kneel on the floor/mats- and im going to go with him on this one since he is an admin and all. Im pretty sure he knows what he's talkin about I think i have seen instances where doors would fold and kind of stack up(though i guess that is hinged,maybe not)

Once you say that I think , and I think it is right they sat on the floor.

[Lychee]

Examples of sitting on floor in China...

[ih8eurocentrix]

i wonder why it took so long to invent chair

[Chen06]

hey lychee, thanks for the pics. Are those tatamis in the first pic? maybe the japanese adopted tatamis from the Chinese...ih8eurocentrix- i dont why it took so long, but i think the chair was introduced to the han chinese by the nomads in china(they were more like stools i believe). I kind of like sitting on the floor though We need to get General Zhaoyun to comment more on this subject, he is alot more knowledgeable than me.

[Mei Houwang]

Quote

i wonder why it took so long to invent chair

Just a guess but once a guy's been sitting on the floor most of his life a chair would probably feel pretty awkward to sit on.

[General_Zhaoyun]

Chen06, on Sep 28 2006, 07:15 AM, said:

Well, according to General Zhaoyun, the ancient chinese did sit/kneel on the floor/mats- and im going to go with him on this one since he is an admin and all. Im pretty sure he knows what he's talkin about I think i have seen instances where doors would fold and kind of stack up(though i guess that is hinged,maybe not)

[P.S. Sorry for the late reply, as I was away in Shanghai for business for 1 week and did not have chance to access internet. Only yesterday did I return back to Singapore]

Anyway, regarding your question about the history of chair in China. I think I would need to amend my previous post after I've done some checkup on some sources. I've made some error in my previous post that chair first appear during age of fragmentation. Below are the correct information according to the sources I check up.

The first chair in China appeared during late Eastern Han dynasty. Later a primitive form of chair known as "hu chuang 胡床" (The bed of Hu people) began to be popular during the age of fragmentation (the "Hu" was a term to refer to nomads in ancient China). But it was during the Tang dynasty that the chinese term for chair "Yi Zi 椅子" began to be used to refer to chair. It was also during the Tang dynasty that the chinese emperor began to sit on a "dragon chair". After Song dynasty, sitting on a chair became very common.

According to chinese sources "宋。高承《事物纪原》 - 《风俗通》" (Song - Gao Cheng, Folks Record), it was recorded “汉灵帝好胡服，景师作胡床，此盖其始也，今交椅是也” (The Han Emperor of Ling loves to wear the "hu" clothings, also made the "Hu" bed, which later evolved into the chair).

According to Houhanshu (《后汉书。五行志一》), it was recorded “汉灵帝好胡服、胡帐、胡床、胡坐、胡饭……，京都贵戚皆竟为之。” (The Han Emperor of Ling loves to wear the Hu clothings, hu tents, hu beds, sit like the hu people, eat the hu rice, all aristocracy follow suit).

These two records can prove that the earliest chinese chair first appeared during Han Ling Di (汉灵帝) [reign 168-189 AD] and it originated from the northern nomads.

During the age of fragmentation, the northern nomads ruled northern China. They introduced a type of chair known as "hu chuang 胡床" (The bed of Hu people), which became popular in China.
[url="http://zhihai.heshang.net/picture/ctwh/zzjj/200603/20060331100840.html"]http://zhihai.heshang.net/picture/ctwh/zzj...0331100840.html[/url]
"hu chuang 胡床" (The bed of Hu people)


"hu chuang 胡床" (The bed of Hu people)


"hu chuang 胡床" (The bed of Hu people)

These "Hu Chuang" possess the earliest forms of 'chair'/stool in China. The Hu Chuang was used mostly by the rich and aristocracy during the age of fragmentation when traveling. It was used for resting and was a symbol of status. Only the male owner of the house and guest had the privilege of using it. "Hu Chuang" was also known as "Jiao Chuang 交床"(crossing bed) and "Sheng Chuang 绳床 "(Rope Bed)

By Sui dynasty, "Hu Chuang" became known as "Jiao Chuang 交床" (crossing bed), because Sui Yang Di (founder emperor of Sui dynasty) does not like the word "Hu". Initially, these kind of chair does not have a resting back. These kind of chair was more for convenient resting/leisure sitting when the emperor is traveling outside the palace.

By Tang Dynasty, the chair began to have 'resting back' for the body to rest on. The chinese word for chair "Yi Zi 椅子" first appeared in the books of Tang dynasty. In the Tang book 《济渎庙北海坛祭器杂物铭。碑阴》 (Ji Du Miao Bei Hai Tan Ji Qi Zha Wu Ming - Bei Ying), it was written “绳床十，内四椅子” (Ten Rope Beds, 4 Chairs Inside). It's actually referring to the fact that "out of these 10 rope beds, there are 4 chairs with resting back". At that time, "bed" and "chair" haven't been much differentiated. People at that time sometimes still refer bed as "chair".

By 5 dynasties and Song dynasty period, tall-form of sitting chair began to be popular. The design of chair began to be more varied. There appeared arm-chair, back-resting chair, rounded chair etc. Also at that time, the style of chair, material and purpose were also customized according to the status of the people.

In the Song painting 《清明上河图》 (Qing Ming Shang He Tu), it can be seen that there were many shops selling different types of tall furniture.

[Chen06]

wow, thanks for the information. So the chair appeared in the Eastern Han eh? Lychee posted a picture with a man kneeling on a mat with tatami mat bamboo floors. Do you think that this is accurate of the pre chair Ancient Chinese? It could be just an imaginative movie reproduction. Also when you refer to Tang architecture, you say, " The Japanese architecture is clearly a replica of Tang architecture." Are you referring to the exterior or also the interior. I was wondering because I was curious if Japanese elements such as tatami mats or similiar bamboo mats, sliding doors/shoji screens, and extensive use of wooden floors( due to the absence of the chair i guess) were also elements of ancient Chinese interiors. Thanks again for the help

This post has been edited by Chen06: 06 October 2006 - 12:00 PM

[General_Zhaoyun]

Chen06, on Oct 7 2006, 12:40 AM, said:

Also when you refer to Tang architecture, you say, " The Japanese architecture is clearly a replica of Tang architecture." Are you referring to the exterior or also the interior. I was wondering because I was curious if Japanese elements such as tatami mats or similiar bamboo mats, sliding doors/shoji screens, and extensive use of wooden floors( due to the absence of the chair i guess) were also elements of ancient Chinese interiors. Thanks again for the help

I'm not very knowledgeable in chinese architecture (as I've not studied indepth into it). However, based on my observation of Tang architecture and Japanese architecture, they are closer to each other in terms of exterior design, and not interior design.

The tang interior design are not necessarily made of tatami mats/bamboo mats, sliding doors. IMO, that's typical japanese interior design. But the chinese interior design does exhibit extensive use of wooden floors (esp. for palace design) and also stone/concrete material for the floor of the main palace hall. During Tang dynasty, it was still customary to sit on floor (in kneeling style - similar to Japanese way of sitting), but usually with a piece of mat on the wooden floor. Sitting on chair was also commonly practised in Tang dynasty.

Below shows some Tang architecture based on the Murals in Dunhuang Caves


This mural in Dunhuang shows the wooden frame pillars for the Tang building.





A Tang building in Tianjin


Tang buildings on street



Tang palace building

[General_Zhaoyun]

For more pictures of Tang dynasty architecture, refer to
http://www.chinahist...showtopic=14298

Unfortunately, I can't find any pictures for Tang dynasty interior design.

[Chen06]

hey, thanks alot for all the info... and the pictures I think it is pretty hard to find interior pictures of Tang dynasty architecture. I have yet to see any so i was curious about what it would have been like.