Free Online Lecture Nov. 1 on Ming-Qing Plain-Wood Furniture: SAIC Professor Emeritus Jiang Qigu on Literati Aesthetics
A free public lecture in the Chinese classical furniture series, co-hosted by the Liberal Arts Society and Silk Road Bowen, will be held online at 19:00 on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Titled "Beyond Huanghuali: The Literati Aesthetics of Ming-Qing Plain-Wood Furniture," it will be given by Jiang Qigu, professor emeritus at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and head of its Asian art research institute. Admission is free.
Jiang Qigu is the author of the book Ming-Qing Plain-Wood Furniture. Joining as guest is Jiang Nianci, president of the Liberal Arts Society; the host is Fang Lili, an editor at the society. The lecture is part of the series "A Century of Resonance, Passing on the Scholarly Torch: Chinese Classical Furniture Public Lectures."
Starting from Ming and Qing plain-wood furniture, the talk contrasts woods by grain, hardness and texture against the shift between ornate and simple furniture styles, compares Chinese and Western furniture history, examines how aesthetic and economic value relate in antique furniture collecting, and reflects on the bias and pitfalls of judging pieces by wood alone, aiming to broaden public understanding of Chinese antique furniture and deepen appreciation of traditional culture.
How to join: the lecture is free and held online, meeting ID 794 8382 2967, starting at 19:00 on November 1, 2026. The poster does not specify a time zone; please check the time shown on the organizer's reservation page and reserve in advance.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 博雅学社与丝路博闻联合主办的中国古典家具系列公益讲座海报（主办方发布，报名二维码已裁去）。 / Poster for the Chinese classical furniture public lecture co-hosted by the Liberal Arts Society and Silk Road Bowen, released by the organizers (registration QR code cropped out).
