FURNITURE has long played an important part in the daily life of the people.

Both the lifestyle and the aesthetic standards of an era can be detected in its furniture. In ancient China, people paid great respect to the making of furniture, regarding it as a type of property no less important than their houses.

The earliest furniture found in China dates back to the New Stone Age (about 6000-3000 BC). Due to the primitive mode of production, furniture made at that time was quite simple and crude.

Deeply affected by national characteristics, social customs, geographical features, climate and manufacturing skills, the antique furniture of China has always taken on its own personality. Whether due to its exquisite workmanship or splendid decorative carvings, it has had a profound effect on the development of modern furniture.

Evolution

The evolution of China's ancient furniture is closely related to the sitting posture of ancient Chinese.

During the Qin (221-206 BC) and Han (206 BC-AD 220) dynasties, people used to sit cross-legged on the ground. Furniture, such as mats and tables, were made low and short. By the time of the Three Kingdoms (220-280), much higher furniture had spread to central China from minority nationalities who lived in the north and west of the country. Beds, couches and other furniture became higher with changes in sitting posture, since people began to sit on chairs with their legs hanging down.

It was not until the late Tang dynasty (618-907), that this taller furniture was popularized, including chairs, stools and tables. The evolution of ancient furniture matured during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

As an old Chinese saying goes: "When a student finds that he can more than cope with his studies, then he takes office." Scholars occupied an important social position in the long period of feudal society in China. Their demands for a high quality of life lead to the improvement of aesthetic standards.

During the Ming Dynasty, scholars even took part in the design of furniture. Thus the standard of furniture during the Ming and Qing dynasties was perfected.

The outstanding characteristics of furniture during the Ming Dynasty were simplicity and naturalness. The primary function was to meet people's daily necessities. Most furniture was made out of hardwood, for example, red sandalwood or walnut. These woods were too hard to warp out of shape and therefore lasted a long time. The graceful textures and colours of Ming Dynasty furniture is indicated by the fact that it was polished with wax instead of being painted.

Furniture produced during the Qing Dynasty pursued splendour and a gorgeous appearance. The pieces were designed with specific functions in mind. Carved ornaments were widely used in the Qing style furniture, into which bone and glass were frequently inlaid.

Sign of wealth

"Taking the Yangtze River as the dividing line, China's ancient furniture developed in two styles," said Charlie Guo, who comes from North China's Shanxi Province and has collected several thousand pieces of ancient Shanxi furniture.

In southern China, furniture from Suzhou, in East China's Jiangsu Province, enjoys a high prominence, while in northern China, furniture from Shanxi Province was well-known and could even be seen in Western Museum collections.

"Suzhou style furniture is delicately made, but Shanxi style furniture is simply made," Guo said. A long history, rich culture, developed economy (during the Ming and Qing dynasties) and special geography all contributed to Shanxi's abundant production of ancient furniture.

Shanxi is the birthplace of traditional Chinese culture. Yao, Shun and Yu, the three earliest legendary emperors in ancient China, came from there. "In addition, Shanxi is surrounded by mountains. When wars broke out, it was hard for enemies to get into this region, so it has been more peaceful than others in China," Guo said.

More ancient furniture has been preserved there because of this peaceful situation.

"Jinshang" deserves special mention when speaking of Shanxi furniture, according to Guo. "Jinshang" refers to wealthy businessmen from Shanxi Province during the Ming and Qing dynasties. At that time, the branches of Shanxi-based banks covered not only China but stretched into Russia, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Affluent lives enabled these wealthy businessmen to ask skillful craftsmen to make fine furniture for their elegant houses.

Shanxi abounds in walnut, which can grow for hundreds of years. When the trees are too old to bear fruit, they are used to make furniture. Elm and pine were also used to make furniture in Shanxi.

Furniture displayed in the houses of businessmen was often carved with decorative designs full of commercial implications.

Some was decorated with designs of ancient coins and some with luxurious designs connected to wealth. The images of "Fu Lu Shou" are often carved on the cabinets. "Fu Lu Shou" refers to three supernatural beings who were thought to bring fortune, success and longevity respectively.

During the periods of war that wracked the late Qing Dynasty, a great deal of ancient furniture was destroyed or plundered by foreign invaders. "In recent years, more and more valuable ancient furniture has been exported to other countries," Guo said. This is one of the main reasons why ancient furniture is becoming rare and difficult to collect.

Ancient furniture was also usually made from rare wood, integrating splendid motifs of Chinese culture.

Today, experts are calling for people to cherish and protect ancient furniture as they learn more to appreciate it.