The history of the square table
The history of several cases of furniture can be traced back at least to Yu's time, when it was called Yi and was mostly used for sacrifice. The name of the case only appeared in the late Zhou Dynasty. Song Gaocheng's selection of "The Times" contains: "There are three generations of danger, but there are no examples, and the Warring States began to have its name." Table names came into being in the Five Dynasties. The square table, which can be tested now, appeared at least in Liao and Jin Dynasties and prevailed in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Especially in the Qing Dynasty, almost every family, whether it is dignitaries or ordinary people, can find the shadow of the square table, and even become the only big piece of furniture in many families.
In terms of structure and use, the popularity of the square table has great inevitability. It is generally believed that the square table is the most simple, economical and practical furniture in large-scale furniture. Easy to use, square in appearance and firm in structure. Kindness, peace and strong sense of stability make the square table an elegant main hall furniture. No matter whether the hall decoration is elegant, simple or even rough, as long as the space is not particularly cramped, putting a square table and two chairs on both sides will produce a very stable feeling, such as being a great scholar, stable and peaceful.
Because the table top of the Eight Immortals table is relatively large, it is difficult to make such a complete and flawless material from precious hardwood that can be cultivated for hundreds of years, so there are few tables made of all materials except firewood.
When the square table is used for eating and drinking, it can seat about eight people, hence the name.
The legend of the Eight Immortals Watch
According to legend, in the past, Buyi people had no table at their wedding, so they had to eat with wood or slate outside. On a hot day, they were sweating profusely. On a rainy day, I was soaked through. One day, a family picked up their daughter-in-law. At noon, the sun became hot, and all the relatives and friends who were squatting on the ground for dinner were sweating. But just after two turns, the sky was covered with dark clouds and it rained cats and dogs, and the food on the ground was drenched by the rain. Just after the heavy rain, a group of people came, claiming to be distant relatives of this family. One is riding a donkey, the other is on crutches, and there are eight people in all. Seeing that the food on the ground was drenched by the rain, and the relatives who came to eat wine were drenched, they asked the host why they didn't eat in the house. The host said that the slate was too heavy to move, and the wood could not be moved indoors, so we had to make do outside. After several distant "relatives" asked the reason, they decided to create a good environment for the hospitable Buyi people to eat comfortably in the house and not be exposed to the sun and rain. So several "relatives" told the host to put the underground food into the kitchen and told them to change into wet clothes and not to come to the main house for the time being. When the relatives changed into dry clothes and came to the principal room, I saw that several "relatives" from afar had set up a large row of neat wooden square tables in the principal room, surrounded by wooden benches, and invited relatives to sit down for dinner according to the proportion of eight people at each table. When the host saw this, he was too excited to know what to say. He just kept asking several "relatives" to sit at the table in front of his house for dinner, and kept saying, "My God, you are really immortals!" Reading aloud, with tables and drinks at hand, and so on, several "relatives" suddenly disappeared. At this time, all relatives were very surprised, saying that they might be immortals and wanted to help us Buyi people do good things. It is said that these "relatives" are the Eight Immortals in the sky.
Later, Buyi people called this kind of table the Eight Immortals Table, which was used to set meals and eat wine when people were drinking or visiting relatives and friends. In order to commemorate the achievements of the Eight Immortals, there are usually good wines and delicious things, and Buyi people will put them on the table of the Eight Immortals at home to show their sacrifice to the Eight Immortals.
There is also a legend that the Eight Immortals traveled around the world together. One day, I passed by Hangzhou and heard that there was a painter Wu Daozi in Hangzhou, so I came to visit him together.
Seeing so many guests visiting, Wu Daozi is painting at home. It turned out to be the Eight Immortals. He quickly stepped forward to welcome them into the room, moved a chair to pour tea, and chatted with his eyes. Before you know it, it will be dark. Wu Daozi thought, the Eight Immortals seldom come. We should treat them to dinner and order the servants to prepare the table. But so many people don't have big tables. Wu Daozi had a brainwave and drew a square table with a stroke of his pen. Just enough for eight people. Eat and drink happily. Lv Dongbin asked Wu Daozi, "Mr. Wu, this table is very affordable. What's your name? " Wu Daozi thought for a moment and said, "I did it for you. Let's call it the square table! "
Characteristics of square table
By the Ming dynasty, the shape of the square table was basically perfect, which was divided into two forms: waist-tied and non-waist-tied. The technique of waist binding is to shrink a circle at the lower part of the table, and the four legs without waist binding are directly connected to the table. By the Qing Dynasty, most of the Eight Immortals tables were changed into belts, and some table legs were also changed into three-legged ones. Many decorative parts have been added to the dental plate, such as the dragon-turning, embossed auspicious patterns and so on, which are very beautiful and exquisite in workmanship.
The square table is simple in structure and saves materials. A piece of furniture has only three parts: legs, edges and teeth. The side length of the desktop is generally required to be more than 0.9 meters, and the edge of the desktop should be wider. The frame is slotted and the plate is used as the core plate. There are usually two core plates, and the support belt is installed behind the core plate of the desktop to increase the firmness and bearing capacity of the desktop. Porcelain boards, beeches and marble are also used as tabletops.