1998 Volume 63 Issue 514 Pages 241-247
In these days we see the fact that the floor sitting style and the chair sitting style coexist both in South Korea and Japan. Considering this current situation, this study aims at shedding light on historical changes and development of these two types of sitting style. Comparing several types of sitting style and its historical changes in China, Korea and Japan along with research into their historical interchange, the author probed into resemblance in sitting style among these three countries. As one of the characteristics, for example, sitting with the left knee drawn up was first observed from the Zhou to Han period in China. Later in the periods of the Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it was seen on various scenes such as people in the middle ruling class holding ceremonies, retainers raising up lamps, warriors standing by, bird hunting, fishing, praying, and such. In Korea, in the period of the Three Kingdoms, this type of sitting style was found where people were drawing characters, and in Japan, in the Jomon period, where men were holding ceremonies. All in the three countries, however, there were also tools to sit down on, and even stools and chairs to show authority were found. From this study, it is assumed that sitting cross-legged as well as seated style were characteristic of people of high standing and were commonly seen in the three countries. Also in China, however, there was a period of sitting on the floor as seen in Korea and Japan. And in the time range given in this study the shift from floor sitting to chair sitting had started there.
