At meetings in China important guests must twist their necks to see and hear their host
, when foreigners meet Chinese leaders the encounter is a pain in the neck. The cause is not mysterious. For reasons that may involve both high culture and low political calculation, important visitors to China are typically invited to sink into one of a pair of side-by-side armchairs, at one end of a formal reception room. There the guest must sit, head twisted through 90 degrees, to see and hear a host whose opening remarks may stretch to an hour.
Whenever Chinese, American or other foreign delegations meet, if the two sides are sitting at a long table that allows for substantive, clause-by-clause negotiations, flickers of optimism may be justified. If, instead, meeting rooms feature antimacassars on overstuffed armchairs, little tables bearing teacups and large paintings of mist-shrouded mountains, gloom may be in order.
The company traces the chairs’ history back to imperial audiences granted during the Song Dynasty, almost a thousand years ago, when floor-mats and stools gave way to chairs. Running at up to $800 each, Tiantan’s bestseller is known within the company as the “Jiang-style Armchair”, because it was commissioned in the early 2000s by aides to the party leader and president of the day, Jiang Zemin.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Just Unfollowed Literally Everyone on InstagramHere's why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle unfollowed everyone on Instagram.
Read more »
Tekashi 6ix9ine's Girlfriend Shared a Video of Him Sucking Her Toes, So Yeah...That HappenedTekashi 6ix9ine's Girlfriend Just Shared a NSFW Video of Him Sucking Her Toes
Read more »
Sanders: People do not love their health insurance companies2020 Democratic candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, weighs in on why President Trump is a 'pathological liar,' why he says as president he would be an 'organizer-in-chief', what Medicare for all means and why he's calling for tuition-free colleges.
Read more »
“One Battle in a Big Old War”: Where Woody Allen’s Amazon Lawsuit Goes NextHere’s why a judge just dismissed several claims in Allen’s $68 million suit.
Read more »
Iain Lee explains why he lied about Strictly Come Dancing contestantsIain Lee has revealed why he lied about the Strictly contestants on Good Morning Britain
Read more »