Litter vehicles are a class of human-powered transport used to carry people. Examples include sedan chairs, palanquins, and litters from various cultures around the world. Simple litters consist of a sling attached to poles or a frame that is carried by porters. In many ancient societies, rulers and dignitaries were transported in litters during ceremonies and processions. Litter vehicles like sedan chairs in China and palanquins in South and Southeast Asia were traditionally used by elites and royalty for travel, and hired out for transport, until being replaced by wheeled vehicles in modern times.
2. Litter vehicles
? The litter is a class of wheelless vehicles, a
type of human-powered transport, for the
transport of persons. Examples of litter
vehicles include lectica (ancient Rome), jiao [
½Î] (China), ki?u (Vietnam), sedan chair
(England), litera (Spain), palanquin (France
and India), liteira (Portugal), Woh ( ,
Chinese style known as giao ) (Thailand),
gama (Korea), kago and norimono (Japan)
and taht?revan (Turkey).
3. definitions
? A simple litter, often called a king carrier,
consists of a sling attached along its length to
poles or stretched inside a frame. The poles or
frame are carried by porters in front and
behind. Such simple litters are common on
battlefields and emergency situations, where
terrain prohibits wheeled vehicles from
carrying away the dead and wounded.
5. antiqvity
? In pharaonic Egypt and many oriental realms
such as China, the ruler and divinities (in the
form of an idol) were often transported thus
in public, frequently in procession, as during
state ceremonial or religious festivals.
? In Ancient Rome, a litter called lectica or
"sella" often carried members of the imperial
family, but also other dignitaries and other
members of the rich elite, when not mounted
on horseback
7. china
? In Han China the elite travelled in light bamboo seats supported
on a carrier's back like a backpack. In the Northern Wei Dynasty
and the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, wooden
carriages on poles appear in painted landscape scrolls.
? A commoner used a wooden or bamboo civil litter (Chinese: Ãñ½Î;
pinyin: min2 jiao4), while the mandarin class used an official litter
(Chinese: ¹Ù½Î; pinyin: guan1 jiao4) enclosed in silk curtains.
? The chair with perhaps the greatest importance was the bridal
chair. A traditional bride is carried to her wedding ceremony by a
"shoulder carriage" (Chinese: ¼çÓß; pinyin: ji¨¡n y¨²), usually hired.
These were lacquered in an auspicious shade of red, richly
ornamented and gilded, and were equipped with red silk curtains
to screen the bride from onlookers.[2]
9. South asia
? A palanquin, also known as palkhi, is a
covered sedan chair (or litter) carried on four
poles. It derives from the Sanskrit word for a
bed or couch, pa:lanka.
? Palanquins are mentioned in literature as
early as the Ramayana (c. 250BC).
? Palanquins began to fall out of use after
rickshaws (on wheels, more practical) were
introduced in the 1930s
11. indonasia
? In traditional Javanese society, the generic
palanquin or joli was a wicker chair with a
canopy, attached to two poles, and borne on
men's shoulders, and was available for hire to
any paying customer.[3] As a status
marker, gilded throne-like palanquins, or
jempana, were originally reserved solely for
royalty, and later co-opted by the Dutch, as a
status marker: the more elaborate the
palanquin, the higher the status of the owner.
The joli was transported either by hired help, by
nobles' peasants, or by slaves.