 - design - aerobics ------------------------------- role of the chaise-longue (daybed) in different cultures: |
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--- page 1 of 3 / page 2 of 3 / page 3 of 3 --- india ---  vishnu reclining on shesha  reclining buddha, humans and animals mourn his entry into nirvana  indian miniature showing woman reclining on a daybed  a prince reclining by moonlight (circa 1740) --- china ---  brick k'ang and wooden k'ang  open-frame daybeds were popularized during the ming dynasty (1368-1644), and their use gradually eclipsed the old, box-style platform.  a miniature wooden daybed found in the tomb of pan yunzheng (d. 1589) near shanghai reflects a classical 'waisted corner-leg' -style typical of the late ming period  use of the platform bed on a veranda  sexual practises on the chinese daybed  chinese opium bed --- japan ---  japanese interior with futon --- see more: page 1 of 3 / page 2 of 3 / page 3 of 3 --- |
vishnu, the lord of cosmos, has been conceived in indian mythology as always reclining on the great serpent shesha (or ananta - whose name means 'endless' -) upon the surfaces of kshirasagara, or the ocean of milk and rising from his sleep only in the moment of some crisis. this is a sign that order is prevailing in the cosmos, and a proper balance between good and evil is being maintained throughout the universe. buddhism began in india, offering its followers the spiritual means to escape the suffering of human existence and to attain enlightenment. while buddhism spread throughout asia, the religion that came to dominate india was hinduism. the reclining buddha represent the point of parinirvana, or ultimate nirvana. and sitting. long before chairs emerged into their culture the chinese used low platforms where either one individual or several persons lounged during daytime. although it is not, strictly speaking, a piece of furniture, the built-in brick k’ang surely must precede any treatment of the wooden daybed since it was a part of the actual construction of the house and as such probably dates from a very remote period. the chinese of the han dynasty (202 B.C. – A.D. 220) habitually sat, or reclined on these flat surfaces. they spent hours of each day upon it. the k'ang was slightly lower than average seat height and usually ran completely across one side of nearly all rooms used for common living. wooden k’angs are made of an extremely solid, heavy paneled type design, they become quite naturally one of the chief pieces of furniture. the chinese platform took on the role of being a multipurpose furniture item. the initial platforms were of box construction (sometimes with decoratively cut out side panels) and examples of the more sophisticated open-structured, 'free standing leg' daybed with corner-leg form did not appear until the ming (1368-1644) and qing period (1644-1911). being relatively lightweight, the daybed often arranged with other furnishings on a terrace or in the garden, where fresh air and natural impressions could be enjoyed. sometimes tented arrangements provided a comfortable place to sleep during the hot summers nights. bamboo was also a favorite material of construction. thee use of an accent table between two occupants was common and facilitated the serving of meals, reading, and the other work being conducted on the platform. other items used in conjunction with these platforms included long footrests, backrests and accessories like decorative cushions and padded blankets. the platform 'ta' daybed was most often to be found in a chinese gentleman's study. here the men smoked or drank tea, and it was used for the praticing of artistic pursuits, meditation and sex. these beds were also used by scolars. opium beds in 1773, the british illegally smuggled opium through its aast indian company. since then millions chinese had become addicts. the consumption of opium was widespread in china in the 19th and early 20th century. government and business interests kept opium relatively cheap and available because its narcotizing effect could take workers' minds off the hardships of their labor. the floor. emperor shoumu used tatami as a bed in the nara era (710-794). people in different social ranks had to use different kinds of tatami. in the middle of Edo era (about 1730), tatami came into use among common people. in the meiji era (1867-1911), farmers started using it. the futon, in addition to being an exceptionally comfortable bed, became a daytime sitting and lounging platform. japanese explain the size of a room by counting the number of tatami mats which fit the room. |
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