Juntong Office Chairs
Among the office chairs related to Juntong, the 'Happy Chair' and high-backed leather chairs are representative, each with distinct uses and symbolic meanings.
Juntong, as an important intelligence agency during the Republic of China era, had office facilities, especially those associated with high-ranking officials, that often carried specific historical backgrounds and symbolic meanings. Among them, the 'Happy Chair' was a unique and notable presence within Juntong. This torture device, invented by Dai Li, featured a unique and cruel design: a rough wooden seat surface embedded with shiny steel plates. This structure caused the interrogated person to constantly twist their body due to the discomfort of the steel plates when sitting, thereby creating immense psychological pressure. According to records, this torture device was extremely powerful, with no one reportedly able to endure it for more than three minutes, highlighting its cruelty.
In addition to the 'Happy Chair' as a special torture device, there were also differences in the seating arrangements for high-ranking Juntong officials in power settings. Taking the scene in Chongqing in 1942 as an example, when Dai Li waited outside He Yingqin's office, he could only sit on a hard chair upon entering, while He Yingqin sat on a high-backed leather chair. This detail not only reflected the status differences among high-ranking Juntong officials in the power structure at the time but also underscored the important role of chairs as symbols in power settings. High-backed leather chairs typically represented higher status and more power, while hard chairs might symbolize lower status or temporary, informal occasions.
The office chairs of Juntong, whether the 'Happy Chair' as a torture device or the high-backed leather chair as a symbol of power, reflected the internal power structure, interrogation methods, and the living conditions of high-ranking officials within Juntong at that time. These chairs were not just simple pieces of furniture; they were witnesses to history, carrying numerous stories and memories from the Juntong era and providing us with a unique perspective to understand that special period.
