Back to blog
Article

Chinese-style Office Chairs

Admin October 11, 2026

Chinese-style chairs suitable for use as office chairs are diverse, encompassing a variety of classic shapes and materials, combining practicality with cultural connotations.

1. Folding Armchairs: Non-standard Golden Phoebe Folding Armchair
The non-standard golden phoebe (scientific name: Phoebe zhennan) folding armchair is a distinctive type of Chinese-style office chair. Made of solid wood, it is structurally stable and foldable, facilitating easy movement and storage. The backrest and armrests are ergonomically designed, providing a comfortable sitting experience suitable for office scenarios requiring flexible adjustment of sitting posture. The phoebe wood features fine grain and strong corrosion resistance, offering both practicality and aesthetic appeal, commonly used in traditional-style studies or reception areas.

2. Side Chairs: Unrestricted Minimalist Design
Side chairs are characterized by their armless design, allowing for a free and unrestricted sitting posture, suitable for office scenarios requiring frequent standing up or adjusting sitting posture. Their backrests are typically straight or slightly curved, of moderate height, providing basic support without restricting movement. With a simple structure, side chairs are often used as dining chairs or office chairs, particularly suitable for modern minimalist Chinese office environments.

3. Official's Hat Chairs: A Combination of Majesty and Practicality
Official's hat chairs come in two types: southern official's hat chairs and four-protruding official's hat chairs, both resembling the official hats of ancient officials in shape, symbolizing a successful career path.

  • Four-Protruding Official's Hat Chair: With the backrest and armrests extending outward at all four ends, it has a majestic and imposing appearance. The backrest is often adorned with relief patterns such as cloud motifs or dragon designs, rich in cultural connotations. Its backrest is of moderate height, providing good support, suitable as a study chair or the main chair in an executive office.
  • Southern Official's Hat Chair: With the backrest and armrests retracting inward at all four ends, it features smooth lines and a strong Zen flavor. The high-armrest southern official's hat chair has armrests of a height coordinated with the backrest, offering a comfortable sitting experience suitable for long hours of office work; the low-armrest version appears lighter and is more suitable as a dining chair or auxiliary office chair.

4. Scholar's Chairs: Representatives of Minimalist Practicality
Scholar's chairs are characterized by their tall and upright backrests, unadorned and simple in style, emphasizing practicality. Their backrests are typically straight or slightly curved, exceeding shoulder height, providing comprehensive support suitable for scenarios requiring long hours of desk work. Scholar's chairs are often used as guest chairs in teahouses or studies, and can also be used in modern Chinese office spaces, reflecting aไฝŽ่ฐƒๅ†…ๆ•› (low-key and understated) cultural temperament.

5. Round-Back Chairs: Modern Interpretations of Classic Shapes
Round-back chairs are marked by their circular backrests, ergonomically designed for a comfortable sitting experience.

  • Imperial Round-Back Chair: With a majestic and understated shape, the backrest and armrests are integrally formed, featuring smooth lines, suitable as the main office chair, showcasing authority and taste.
  • Improved Round-Back Chair: Such as the improved version replicating the style of the Shanghai Museum's round-back chair, with a้บ’้บŸ (Qilin, a mythical creature) openwork design on the backrest, symbolizing good fortune, retaining traditional craftsmanship while incorporating modern design elements, suitable for creative office environments.
  • Bamboo-Joint Round-Back Chair: Emphasizing handcrafted traces, the backrest and armrests mimic the shape of bamboo joints, natural and rustic, suitable for office spaces pursuing a natural style.