Daybeds

Asians are good makers of antique pieces which can make a beautiful difference around the house. A simple piece is made even more meaningful if it comes from the east. Asians put meanings to everything they do, use, and say. All things Asians should have interesting anecdotes behind them. A Chinese daybed for example, is more than just a space-saving sleeping piece for its ancestors. It is covered with a bit of history and culture that even an all-knowing American would be interested to learn about.

Buddhism, a religion that rooted from India, is the backbone of daybed use in China. It was believed from years before that the Vishnu or the lord of the cosmos only get to rest on a recliner when a good balance is maintained around the world. The Vishnu only rise from his restful sleep when proper balance is not achieved. When Buddhism invaded China, the same concept was adapted. Thus, Chinese people do not have a concrete distinction for a sleeping and seating piece. To them, it is but one and the same.

Way before chairs were introduced in China, their most useful piece of furniture is a built-in brick k’ang where every one lays at nap time. Low platforms also served dual purpose — seating area by day, sleeping space by night. This obviously shows that a Chinese daybed is one of the earliest pieces of furniture which was indispensable to the people. A house cannot live one without it.

A Chinese daybed is made relatively lightweight so it was often arranged with a whole lot of different things to accentuate either the terrace or the garden. Where fresh air is present, the Chinese daybed serves its purpose best. Sometimes, a canopy is added to make for a comfortable nap furniture even when the sun is glaring. Aside from canopies or sheds, the usual addition in a Chinese daybed include an accent table used for meals, books, or other work paraphernalia; a long footrest; a comfy backrest; and a set of plush beddings.

A Chinese daybed is not just a seating and sleeping piece for the people of China, it is also a wonderful site to complete artistic works and other hobbies. Its offered comfort is the thing that truly makes it an imperative to a functional home. Not to mention its style. Since a Chinese daybed was inspired by a past lifestyle, it carries the antique feel like no other. It will truly make you feel like living in royalty even when your material of choice is simply bamboo.