Encyclopedia of Chinese Traditional Furniture, Vol. 1

Encyclopedia of Chinese Traditional Furniture is the first work in China and elsewhere that introduces the history and features of traditional furniture in representative regions and ethnic groups of China in a comprehensive way — beds, chairs and stools, tables, shelves, cabinets and cupboards, screens, lattice-style doors and windows, and miscellaneous. It contains four volumes with sufficient illustrative texts and about 10,000 photos and illustrations: General Introduction, Ethnical Minorities, Regional Characteristics, and Diversified Scenarios.

General Introduction explains the basic concepts, main classification, composition, and characteristics of traditional Chinese furniture. Ethnical Minorities reviews the main characteristics in minority groups such as the Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur, Miao, Yi, Manchu, Korean, Dai, and Nakhi, among others. Regional Characteristics introduces the furniture made in some representative regions in China and illustrates the typical characteristics, materials, and processing methods. Diversified Scenarios discusses the furniture of royal palaces, government offices in ancient China, temples, gardens, as well as residences of officials, famous people, and common people.

The work is suitable for library collection, and as an important reference material for professionals in enterprises and research institutions specializing in furniture, interior decoration and architectural design, teachers and students devoted to furniture and industrial design, as well as readers who are interested in traditional Chinese furniture and culture.

About This Volume: General Introduction

This volume introduces the basic concepts, formation and research significance of traditional furniture. It also illustrates the main classification, composition of traditional furniture with examples in some representative areas. It discusses the details of structures, materials and processing techniques of traditional furniture. It also touches on many aspects of Chinese bamboo furniture. The last part of the volume explores the style blanking and reconstruction in modern times, the research and development direction, inheritance and innovation.