Why did the wave of "high-legged furniture" rise in the Song Dynasty and eliminate the tradition of sitting on the floor?

China has a tradition of attaching importance to "ceremony" since ancient times. Ceremony is not only a performance ceremony, but also a harmonious blend of people's life order and spiritual consciousness. Exquisite furniture naturally not only satisfies the functions of utensils, but also contains "gifts" handed down from generation to generation. After the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, seats became more and more important in people's lives and gradually became a necessity. "Zhou Li" recorded the etiquette system of using seats, "hold five tables, distinguish the names of five seats, and divide their uses and status." Generally speaking, as a kind of furniture, it matures within two weeks. It keeps up with the rapid development of science and technology and the establishment of etiquette system.

The supporting low-legged tables are Zu, Ban, Yi and Xiang, and a large number of archaeological materials have been unearthed. When it comes to furniture, you may say that Ming-style furniture is the pinnacle of classical furniture art in China, but in fact, Ming-style furniture inherited the furniture style of Song Dynasty. The furniture in Song Dynasty created the elegant, leisure and simple literati home style, which became the source of the furniture style in Ming Dynasty. At the same time, the furniture in Song Dynasty was also the period when high furniture completely replaced short furniture in China history. Here is a very interesting question. Before the Song Dynasty, sofas, bags and other low furniture were very popular. Why did the fashion of "high-legged furniture" rise in Song Dynasty? As the name implies, the so-called "high-legged furniture" (also known as "high-legged furniture") means that the feet of furniture are generally very high, which makes the whole furniture look very high. High-legged furniture first appeared in the Wei and Jin Dynasties in China, and then gradually developed. In the Song Dynasty, high-legged furniture was very popular and was very popular in the whole society.

Before Wei and Jin Dynasties, people used low furniture and usually sat on the floor. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, high-legged furniture began to appear. Influenced by the "Hu custom" in the western regions and the invasion of northern nationalities, people began to sit on the ground instead of landing on their feet, so high-legged furniture gradually developed. Under these categories, people can decide the style, quality and style of home furniture according to their family status, identity and personal taste.

As for the tables and chairs symbolizing power, the legs at the bottom are installed on the left and right sides in a cross shape. The biggest feature is that it can be folded and carried easily. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has become an important equipment for emperors to go hunting and rest.