Cultural symbols in furniture design: A research on the evolution path of Ming furniture’s molding design

Ming furniture marks the peak in the design history of traditional Chinese furniture. The present article attempts to explore the reasons leading to the gradual changes in the molding design of Ming furniture, with the role that "four-side flushed" construction once played in the molding of Ming furniture and the process in which it was replaced by "recessed waist" construction as the focus of this study. An analysis of the practical and aesthetic needs of the times shows that aesthetic orientation as affected by the general cultural environment has been the driving force behind the selection of design molds of Ming furniture. Such a realization will help us to create new classics in contemporary furniture design by taking full advantage of cultural factors.