A Study on the Contemporary Path to Sustainable Development from the Philosophical Perspective of Song Dynasty Furniture Design

Furniture transcends mere utility, serving as a vital medium that embodies cultural spirit and design philosophy. In the context of global sustainable development, the furniture industry is confronted with pressing issues, including rapid resource consumption, shortened product lifecycles, and a prevailing trend towards ephemeral aesthetics. Song Dynasty furniture, characterized by its minimalist aesthetic of 'Qi yi Zai Dao' (vessels bearing the Dao), its material philosophy of 'Dao Fa Ziran' (the Dao follows Nature), and its human-centric functionality derived from 'Ge Wu Zhi Zhi' (the investigation of things to extend knowledge), embodies a design philosophy that is highly congruent with contemporary sustainability concepts. This paper, taking the design philosophy of Song Dynasty furniture as its point of departure, employs historical comparison and critical analysis to contrast the deviations of contemporary furniture design in terms of material ethics, structural value, and aesthetic orientation. Based on this analysis, it proposes pathways for future development. The study concludes that the Song Dynasty's design philosophy not only offers a cultural foundation and methodological support for the sustainable development of contemporary furniture but also provides inspiration for the application of modular design, the circular economy, and interdisciplinary thinking. It is hoped that this research will serve as a reference for the green transformation of the furniture industry and contribute to the refinement of future sustainable design theory.