The elegant simplicity of Japanese room design, with its bamboo latticed window screens, floor pillows, low tea table etc., were borrowed from the Chinese.
唐朝時，日本推行大化革新，大力模仿唐朝典章制度、生活文物。當時人們多蓆地而坐，地下遂需鋪張草蓆，此亦隨著其他文物傳到日本。後來日人為使其更柔軟、耐用，就在底下墊以稻草，遂漸發展成以稻草編結蓆底、燈芯草編結蓆面的榻榻米。