Zitan
/ˈziː.tæn/noun
A dense, dark purple-brown rosewood traditionally prized in China for luxury furniture and carvings.
Did you know?Zitan was among the prized woods used for elite Chinese furniture, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when its scarcity enhanced its prestige.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Indian
Sanskrit
candana
“Sandalwood; a fragrant wood”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
檀 (tán)
“Sandalwood or other valuable aromatic timber; likely connected through Buddhist-era contact with Sanskrit candana”
Medieval Chinese
Chinese
紫檀 (zǐtán)
“Purple sandalwood; 紫 means “purple” and 檀 refers to sandalwood or prized timber”
Ming–Qing period
Chinese
紫檀
“Highly valued dark rosewood used for imperial and elite furniture”
Modern English
English
zitan
“A Chinese name and English loanword for prized rosewood, especially Dalbergia species”
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