Kang table,a type of household furniture commonly used during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China,is a low table designed to be placed on a kang (heated brick bed), a large couch, or a bed.It resembles an ordinary table in shape, with four legs and a height of about 20 to 40 centimeters.It was used for eating, writing, and other activities while sitting or lying on the bed, making it a very convenient and practical piece of furniture.
This small table was a common fixture in homes during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was specifically designed for use on the bed, serving as a writing desk or a surface for food — a versatile and functional accessory in traditional Chinese bedrooms.
NounA low table placed on a kang (a traditional heated brick bed in northern China).
Citations:
[Xueyan] went out to fetch the brazier kang table. — Qing Dynasty, Dream of the Red Chamber, Chapter 97
Jia Lian entered the room and saw Lady Feng just about to get dressed. She couldn’t move for the moment and leaned on the kang table. — Qing Dynasty, Dream of the Red Chamber, Chapter 109
In the middle stood a square kang table, with seating on three sides. — Late Qing, Liu E, The Travels of Lao Can, Chapter 9
Although the floodwaters had receded, a typical post-flood stench still lingered... So this letter was written on the kang table inside the house. — Modern Era, Zhou Zuoren, The Taste of Life: Bitter Rain
Village Party Secretary Chang Gui was eating at the kang table in his home. On the table were several corn buns. He, his wife, and their child each held a large bowl and were slurping wild vegetable porridge. — Contemporary, Du Liang, Romance in Blood, Part 3, Chapter 7
Example Sentence:All three daily meals were eaten on the kang. A kang table was placed on top, and the whole family would sit cross-legged around it.