The Japanese custom of sitting on the floor instead of on chairs is closely related to the habit of removing one's shoes before entering the house. In the past in a country where it rains an average of 120 days a year, simple dirt-floored rooms would become very damp. Thus floors came to be laid with planks or bamboo raised 1-11/2 feet above ground level, and straw or matting was spread on them for people to sit on. Eventually, as we have seen, tatami came to be used to cover the entire floor. The custom of removing one's shoes still continues today in Japan even in Western-style homes.
Of course, sitting on the floor is not a particularly Japanese custom. It is practiced by many people all over the world, and is quite common on carpeted floors. Furthermore, as the Japanese way of life becomes more and more Westernized, the Western way of sitting on chairs, especially at mealtime or when entertaining guests, has become popular. The wearing of trousers instead of kimono also has the effect of making the knees visible, and destroys the visual poise and balance of the traditional Japanese sitting posture.
Despite these trends, however, taking one's shoes off and sitting on the floor—regardless of whether it is tatami, carpeting, or just wood—still instills in the Japanese a feeling of relaxation. And, as long as some vestiges of the traditional sitting posture remain, the traditionally low perspective or line of sight will continue to influence ways of looking at objects, nature, and even people.
WAYS OF SITTING
A low table with collapsible legs, legless collapsible chairs, and independently standing armrests can be easily moved around and stored away.
No comments:
Post a Comment