How could a table and chairs represent many different places in Chinese opera?

In Chinese opera, a table and chairs serve as highly versatile, symbolic props that allow the stage to remain largely bare of scenery. Because traditional Chinese theatre relies on a system of highly developed conventions rather than realistic sets, these simple items can represent a wide variety of locations and objects depending on how they are used by the performers.12

For example, a chair may be used to represent a throne, a bench, or a barrier if an actor stands behind it. If an actor stands on top of a chair, it can signify a tower. Similarly, a table and chairs together can indicate a mountain, a wall, or other specific settings. When a curtain is suspended in front of two chairs, it is used to represent a bed.21

This minimalist approach is deeply rooted in the tradition of Chinese performing arts, where the use of such symbols is intended to stimulate the audience's imagination rather than rely on Western-style dramatic realism.12