Office Chair Inspired by Dragon Throne

The dragon throne is a chair with dragon patterns carved on the armrests, traditionally used by emperors in ancient times and officially known as the 'imperial throne'. Nowadays, there are also office chairs on the market designed with elements inspired by the dragon throne. Details are as follows:

Traditional Dragon Throne

• Definition and Evolution of Form: The dragon throne generally refers to the chair used by the emperor, officially known as the 'imperial throne'. Its form has evolved over history from a bed-like structure to a high-footed seat.
• Design Purpose: The core design was not for comfort but to symbolize the supreme authority and ritualistic majesty of the imperial power.
• Materials and Craftsmanship: Taking the gilded lacquered cloud-and-dragon throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony at the Forbidden City in Beijing as an example, it was crafted during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. Many people mistakenly believe it is made of pure gold, but it is actually a wooden frame of golden nanmu, covered with gold leaf and painted with gold lacquer, with 13 carved dragons throughout.
• Structural Features and Comfort: Structurally, this dragon throne inherently enforces an upright sitting posture, with a straight and rigid backrest lacking the lumbar support curve of modern chairs, making it impossible to relax and lean back. The armrests and backrest are covered with three-dimensional dragon relief carvings. Even with thick brocade cushions laid in ancient times, they could only provide slight relief, failing to address the core issues of a suspended waist and tense back. Moreover, the seat of the dragon throne is extremely wide, making it difficult for the emperor to naturally lean against the backrest after sitting down. Throughout the sitting period, he had to rely on the muscles of his waist and abdomen to maintain a dignified posture of sitting upright, leading to backaches and stiffness after prolonged sitting.
• Usage Scenarios and Frequency: The dragon throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony was only used for national grand ceremonies such as enthronements, New Year's Day, and the emperor's birthday celebrations, with a frequency of only a few times a year, and each session lasting no more than two hours. For daily tasks such as reviewing memorials, summoning ministers, and handling government affairs, the emperor would be in the Hall of Mental Cultivation or the Palace of Heavenly Purity, sitting on improved chairs, armchairs, or soft couches, all padded thickly for practicality and comfort, far more comfortable than the dragon throne.

Modern Office Chairs with Dragon Throne Elements

Nowadays, there are also some office chairs on the market designed with elements inspired by the dragon throne, with prices ranging from 100 yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. They come in various styles, including new Chinese style, fiberglass material, and copper sculpture material.