A Song Dynasty ceramic pillow, depicting a toy puppet show, which is housed in the Henan Museum. [Photo/Official Weibo account of Sichuan Museum] Pillows have been used in China for thousands of years and hold a significant place in Chinese culture. In modern times, we enjoy a wide range of pillows filled with synthetic fibers, down, feathers, or latex. However, it is intriguing to explore what ancient Chinese people used as pillows. Let's delve into their practices and discover more. 1. Evolvement of pillow Based on historical records and unearthed artifacts, the development of pillows in China can be traced through various materials such as stone, jade, wood, bamboo, lacquer, leather, copper, pottery, porcelain, silver, and silk fabric. Pillows were categorized into hard and soft types, with stone and wooden pillows appearing earliest in history. The origins of pillows can be traced back to the middle Paleolithic period based on archaeological evidence. During that time, people unconsciously used objects like stones, sticks, bundles of straw, or pieces of animal skin as head support, serving as the earliest prototypes of pillows. References to pillows can also be found in historical documents from the pre-Qin period (before 221 BC) in ancient China. For instance, a stanza of Shijing(The Book of Songs), the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry (11th to 7th century BC), mentions a pillow, describing how a melancholic beauty finds it difficult to sleep while burdened with a heavy heart. |
Nicola Peltz cements the end of 'feud' with 'beautiful' motherOlympic organizers unveil strategy for using artificial intelligence in sportsJimmy Carr sparks speculation he may have become a father for the second timeBP defeated thousands of suits by sick Gulf spill cleanup workers. But not one by a boat captainEric Bana gets animated during AFL game between the St Kilda Saints and the Western BulldogsShe means business! Rita Ora steps out in chic tailored threeTennis umpire banned for life for manipulating scores and gamblingTexas spring signals time for Ewers to slow down and enjoy football in 2024 before NFL draftMeghan Markle models 'love like a mother' tItaly earns 5th Champions League spot for next season because of overall success in Europe