Song Office Chairs
Song-style furniture encompasses a variety of typical chair forms that can be regarded as types of chairs used for office work or daily life in the Song Dynasty, including rose chairs (folded-back style), round-backed armchairs, folding chairs, backrest chairs, and armchairs.
The rose chair (folded-back style) is a highly distinctive type among Song-style chairs. Its relatively low backrest design reflects the unique aesthetic preferences of Song Dynasty literati, who pursued an understated and subtle beauty that aligned with their cultural temperament.
The round-backed armchair also holds an important position among Song-style chairs, having further refined its form based on Tang Dynasty prototypes. With its elegant shape and smooth lines, the round-backed armchair features a continuous curve formed by the backrest and armrests, adhering to ergonomic principles. It not only offers visual appeal but also provides comfortable support during use.
The folding chair represents a portable ceremonial implement that combines features of the Hu bed (a portable seat) and the round-backed armchair. The Hu bed was originally a convenient, portable seat, while the round-backed armchair offered superior comfort and stability. The folding chair integrates the advantages of both, being easy to carry and suitable for formal occasions, thus becoming an important symbol in Song Dynasty ceremonial culture.
The backrest chair was the most widely used type of chair in the Song Dynasty. It can be categorized into straight-top and curved-top types based on the shape of the crest rail, with most featuring an overhanging design. This overhanging crest rail design is linked to the winged futou (a type of official hat) worn by Song Dynasty officials, reflecting the infiltration of Song culture into daily utensils. With its simple structure and strong practicality, the backrest chair met the needs of daily office work and life.
The armchair represents an improvement on the backrest chair, with the addition of armrests on both sides, greatly enhancing comfort during use. Some larger, elaborately decorated armchairs are also referred to as thrones. For example, the four-overhanging armchair depicted in the portrait of Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin) features round-carved, gold-lacquered phoenix-head decorations at the ends of the horizontal armrests and the bow-shaped crest rail, symbolizing nobility and majesty.
