Northeast Asian History Network

Western Wall of the Western Auxiliary Chamber - Portrait of the Deceased - Leaning Table

A Bing-gweh can be seen in the portrait of the deceased in the western auxiliary chamber of Anak Tomb No. 3. A Bing-gweh (literally “leaning table”) was furniture used for sedentary occupations that aided in relieving fatigue associated with sitting for extended periods. The Bing-gweh depicted in the image was sometimes referred to as a three-legged Bing-gweh. This furniture was also known as Eungweh in Korea.
The Bing-gweh in the image was finished with black paint, and white geometric patterns can be seen at the ends of the table. The unique, sharply-angled legs of the table were designed to provide clearance for the user's naturally protruding knees when sitting. The nobleman's left arm can be seen resting comfortably on the Bing-gweh. In China, the Bing-gweh was prevalent from the Han dynasty to the Southern and Northern dynasties. However, it disappeared completely upon the arrival of the Sui and Tang dynasties along with changes in lifestyle.