Classic of Mountains and Seas: Ruan Lamp

About The Entry

Centering on Eastern aesthetics, the lamp draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese plucked string instrument “ruan” and the mythological imagery from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. On a compact desk, it creates a serene yet profound cultural experience. Unlike common lantern-shaped designs on the market, this lamp takes the front view of a Han Dynasty ruan as its main form. The rounded acrylic body serves as a canvas for decorative patterns, with light flowing softly through the acrylic body, like the gentle notes of an ancient instrument. The solid wood neck and tuning pegs further reinforce the instrument’s characteristics, enhancing its recognizability. Additionally, the light source and wiring are ingeniously concealed within the body, keeping all components hidden and the overall form clean and artistic.

At the center of the ruan lies a painting depicting the “flying fish” soaring at night from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. This auspicious creature with a body of fish and wings of birds, said to travel between the Western and Eastern Seas under the cover of night, shows the lamp’s function of illuminating darkness and symbolizes the spirit of freedom and adventurous exploration. The lamp’s base takes the form of rolling white distant mountains, steadily upholding the ruan. This design stabilizes the irregular structure and creates a serene, dreamlike landscape.

The lamp features ingenious interactions. It replaces conventional impersonal physical buttons with the minimalist touch-sensitive switch, allowing users to adjust the brightness with a gentle tap. Every tap on the ruan feels like plucking strings, turning a simple interaction into a graceful, ritualistic experience.