Wood Sample
Burlwood (Ying Mu)	Camphor (Zhang Mu)
General term for a cut near the root section. Burlwood is scarce and expensive	Very expensive, scented wood, used for small furniture, chests, boxes. etc. Favourite of upper class Ming and Qing dynasty Ladies
Chicken Wing (Ji Chi Mu)	Cypress (Bai Mu)
Praised by chinese artisans. Most common in Qing palace furniture. Very expensive.	Very smooth. Lots of northern furniture are made of cypress. More expensive than the southern variety.
Ironwood (Tie Li Mu)	Mahogany (Hong Mu)
Very similar to Ji Chi Mu, but not as dense and heavy. Used typically in Ming furniture. Pricey, but can be found relatively easily in China.	Type of rosewood. Very durable. Used for Qing furniture, especially valued in the eastern part of China.
Pearwood (Li Mu)	Pine (Song Mu)
Almost uniquely used in cabinet making. Very hard and dense.	Commonly used in less expensive sothern chinese furniture, mainly for kitchen cabinets
Rose (Hua Li Mu)	Teak (You Mu)
Similar but less expensive than the Huang Hua Li, relatively easy to find today. Durable.	Has the most dimensional stability, extremely durable. Since the surface isn't appealing, teak furniture is usually painted and lacquered.
Yellow rose (Huang Hua Li)	Cedar
Much praised by ancient chinese, once it's weight was compared to gold. Very expensive but durable.	Very durable wood used for ship making. Popular for it's beauty and insect repelling quality which makes it ideal for furniture. Cedar wood is expensive.
Southern Elm (Ju Mu)	Oak (Zao Mu)
The most praised soft wood for Ming furniture	Rare to find in old furniture, often used for stools mixed with bamboo.
Red Purple-Sandal (Zitan)	Walnut (He Tao Mu)
The most expensive wood, so dense that it sinks in water. Surviving furniture is hard to find outside of museums.	Very dense wood, usually find in northern chinese Ming and Qing furniture. Hard to find because it's popularity with asian collectors