| Including types of wood commonly used in ancient and | | | | being due to its feather-like pattern which resembles |
| Modern China and a brief account of ancient Chinese | | | | that of birds. Zitan mu is an extremely hard rosewood. |
| furniture. | | | | This type of wood is just so hard and dense that it |
| In ancient China , people used to sit or kneel on straw | | | | sinks in water. It is commonly found in America , Africa |
| mats on the floor. Starting from around 471-221B.C., | | | | , India , Vietnam and Burma . It is said that it is very |
| beds and mats came into being. Then people started | | | | difficult for it to grow bigger than for a diameter of 7 |
| to move their daily living from the floor to somewhere | | | | inches. That is why it is very difficult to get big trunks |
| of raised heights. From then on, straw mats were | | | | from this tree. It has a tree trunk of yellow color. But |
| used mostly on beds and couches. | | | | with enough exposure in the air, the yellow will change |
| Not only chairs and stools, various designs of furniture | | | | to dark red. It gives off fragrant smell and it is one of |
| has arrived its summit in the Ming and Ching dynasties. | | | | China 's medicinal herbs. With a chair made of Zitan, |
| In the Ming dynasty, smooth, flowing lines and elegant | | | | people will receive good medicinal treatment by sitting |
| ornamentation were the motifs at the time. In the Ching | | | | on it. |
| dynasty, furniture design turned to richer ornamentation | | | | For a long time, ancient Chinese furniture has been |
| together with more coordinated engraved details. And | | | | treasure of furniture aficionados. However, not much |
| in more modern days, most Chinese furniture designs | | | | of what was produced in the ancient China was kept |
| are heavily influenced by the above two periods in | | | | because a piece of good work was not rated |
| history. | | | | valuably. It was not until the Ming and Ching dynasties |
| Since furniture has come in being, wood has been the | | | | that good pieces of furniture were valued and |
| major material used. With China 's rich forest | | | | treasured by people. Even in the two periods, most |
| resources, it is nothing surprising. There are two main | | | | furniture was either destroyed locally or looted by |
| materials being used, lacquered and hardwood. | | | | invaders from the West. In fact, similar situation lasted |
| Besides, bamboo and rattan furniture are also | | | | until recent China during the Communist revolution |
| common in areas of warmer and sunnier weather. | | | | when communal chaos destroyed cabinets, chest and |
| The most frequently used woods in high quality | | | | chairs for fuel and any possession of quality would be |
| furniture are huganhuali mu (yellow flower pear wood), | | | | considered against the government at the time. |
| jichi mu (phoenix tail or chicken wing wood) and zitan | | | | As a result, apart from the few items which managed |
| mu(dark-purple sandlewood). | | | | to escape with their expatriate or diplomatic families to |
| Huanghuali mu was often used in both the Ming and | | | | places like Hong Kong or to the West, a limited |
| Ching dynasties. Huanghuali mu is one of the world's | | | | collection can be found in museums such as the |
| most precious woods. It can reach up to 36 meters tall | | | | Victoria and Albert Museum in London , the Palace |
| with a diameter of 1 meter. This wood is commonly | | | | Museum in Beijing . |
| found in Thailand , Burma and Vietnam . In ancient | | | | In fact, with ancient Chinese furniture gaining more |
| China , Huanghuali mu and Zitan were as precious and | | | | worldly attention and international status to its high |
| costly as gold and gem. Jichi mu is a kind of very hard | | | | quality and worth, prices of a true piece can command |
| wood. It is often found in Burma , Thailand , India and | | | | up to as much as one is willing to pay. |
| Vietnam . This type of wood is of even more rarity | | | | With increasing worldwide attention and appreciation, |
| than both Huganhuali and Zitan. Its name came into | | | | Chinese furniture is gaining its international position. |