The Classic Chinese Study

The study was an important part of an ancient Chinese house. It was used as a room to read books, practice painting and calligraphy as well as for meeting friends or relaxation. Inside the study the furniture often consisted of a bed, cabinets and cloth racks as well as painting tables, book shelves, chairs and stools and objects for the scholar's desk. The Ming and Qing literati were fond of collecting antiques and displaying their collection in the study. Scrolls of painting and calligraphy, classic lutes, censers, armrests, paper weights, tea wares and etc. could also be found in the study. This was often built with a dark blue brick floor and white painted walls. Green pine or cypress trees and bamboo planted outside the room created a peaceful and serene effect.