The Basic Meaning Of A Coffee Table

A tea table, also known as a tea stand or tea table, is a small piece of furniture used to place tea sets and entertain guests.

The character  (ji) originates from an ancient pictograph, referring to a place where a board is placed on two wooden stakes to serve as a tea-drinking area.

The prototype of the tea table can be seen in Ming Dynasty paintings, where incense tables also served as tea tables. By the Qing Dynasty, it had evolved into an independent category; by the late Qing Dynasty, it had become a basic furniture item; and the advent of modern sofas has led to lower tea tables to accommodate different sitting postures.