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Five types of furniture in the Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty marked another golden age in the history of Chinese furniture, following the flourishing periods of the Han and Tang Dynasties. With a thriving economy, urban gardens and residences saw significant development, creating a massive demand for high-quality furniture among the nobility and wealthy merchants. This period also attracted the attention of cultural elites who took a keen interest in furniture design and aesthetics. Their contributions helped refine and mature the distinctive style of Ming-style furniture.
Ming furniture can be broadly categorized into five main types:
**Category 1: Cabinet-type Furniture**
This is the most diverse group, including items like the Kang table, Kang case, Hongji table, wine table, Zhu table, square table, art table, wide table case, and more. There are also specialized pieces such as crescent tables, fan tables, chess tables, and supply tables.
**Category 2: Bed Types**
Beds in the Ming era varied in structure. A simple bed with no additional features was called a "bed," while those with backrests or side panels were known as "Arhat beds." Beds with pillars surrounding them were referred to as "shelf beds."
**Category 3: Chairs and Stools**
This category includes various seating options such as stools, benches, folding stools (Maza), official chairs, rose chairs, and even thrones reserved for royalty and monastic use.
**Category 4: Frames**
Used primarily for storage or display, these include bookshelves, multi-tiered cabinets, and other structured furniture. They can be designed with rounded or square corners, depending on their purpose and aesthetic appeal.
**Category 5: Screens and Partitioning Units**
These were used both decoratively and functionally, often serving as room dividers or decorative elements. The design of Ming furniture was highly regarded, with experts like Wang Shixiang categorizing it into "sixteen grades" and "eight diseases" to define its quality and style.
According to Wang Shixiang’s classification, the "sixteen grades" of Ming furniture include qualities such as simplicity, elegance, dignity, and clarity, while the "eight diseases" refer to undesirable traits like clumsiness, redundancy, and vulgarity. These standards reflect the refined taste and craftsmanship that defined Ming-era furniture, making it a lasting symbol of Chinese design excellence.