The “Buddha” and “Zen” in mahogany furniture

Chinese mahogany furniture and Chinese civilization have a long history. There are many cultures closely related to Buddhism, such as Arhat beds, Eighteen Arhats sculptures, etc. There are countless pieces of furniture carved with Buddhist stories on mahogany furniture.

The mutual infiltration of Buddhist civilization and Chinese civilization has had a profound and appropriate impact on the evolution and planning of Chinese furniture. The erudition and talent of Zen Buddhism, as well as the energy level of literati deeply influenced by Zen theory, are also reflected and continuously reflected in modern furniture planning. Buddhism had no intention of establishing aesthetics, and seldom discussed aesthetic questions with a positive perspective. However, the world view, universe view, outlook on life, aesthetic view, etc. analyzed in the Buddhist classics unconsciously revealed rich aesthetic implications. The beauty of “roundness” and the beauty of “satisfaction”; The beauty of “completeness” and “roundness” nurtures a brilliant aesthetic thinking, which constructs a personality of shared artistic conception in furniture planning.

In fact, the entry of Buddhism into China was not without progress, but rather grew continuously during the 800 years of mutual conflict, immersion, and even integration with Chinese civilization. First, from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Northern and Southern dynasties, over the past four hundred years, great construction was carried out, caves were dug, temples were built, statues of Buddhas were portrayed and rock paintings were made. Many high-class furniture from India also entered China, and the Chinese people’s “sitting on the ground” living method was severely impacted; Second, from the late Northern and Southern dynasties to the early Tang Dynasty, the country has been open for four hundred years. Under the active initiative of the Ruling class, the Buddhism civilization has permeated into everyone’s life, and the high-end furniture in Buddhism has also been widely accepted.

Zen is a heart lamp, and more and more people have come to realize the truth through it, such as health, love, and beauty. In modern cities, high frequency and full load living methods can cause physical and mental exhaustion. In these increasingly busy days, people yearn for a space where they can completely relax, regulate and transform their energy with simplicity and purity. This is the result of people’s desire to break away from the complexity and complexity of complementary knowledge allocation, seeking simplicity and natural thinking. This is the reason why minimalism is prevalent in the planning industry today.

The thinking of ‘Zen’ influences the planning philosophy of today’s era, and we often find the imprint of ‘Zen’ in today’s interior planning, environmental planning, furniture planning, and product planning. The demand for home furnishings by modern people tends to be simple yet tasteful, with concise planning lines and a sense of simplicity and elegance. Zen style furniture and placement are becoming increasingly popular.

The “Buddhist Shadow and Zen Traces” are not only prevalent in China, but also in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and other regions, especially Japan. Its cultural background is centered around “Zen”, and the unique Zen style of furniture is reflected in Japanese style homes. The Japanese people’s understanding of Zen homes is generally characterized by the use of natural materials and the use of simple, quiet, simple, and calm color combinations.