What is the difference between Caohuali and Yahuali?

Caohuali is a type of Yahuali. Yahuali belongs to non-hongmu (non-rosewood), and is a general term for many kinds of wood. In general, what the market refers to as Yahuali mainly means African stinkwood, while Caohuali is a general term for the huali-type trees within hongmu, including 7 tree species.

What is Caohuali?

Caohuali is a term commonly heard in major hongmu furniture stores.

However, as a general and imprecisely defined name, it is easy for people to become confused about “Caohuali”:

Caohuali has a coarse wood texture, overly large pores, and a dull, dry earthy-yellow color without luster.

After tracing it back to its roots, it is not hard to find that the name “Caohuali” was originally a general term used by ordinary people for the sake of convenience for several kinds of wood, and its appearance is closely related to Huanghuali.

During the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period, Hainan Huanghuali was almost completely cut down, and as the national strength was declining day by day at that time, importing equally precious wood (such as sandalwood red sandalwood) was already beyond its capacity.

At this time, Caohuali was introduced into furniture making as a supplement and substitute for Huanghuali.

Therefore, among surviving late Qing Dynasty and Republic of China period furniture, the number of Caohuali furniture pieces is quite considerable, while Huanghuali furniture is rarely seen.

Among hongmu, the first rank in material quality: Huanghuali and red sandalwood.

Second rank: black rosewood, ebony (also called black sandalwood), and African red sandalwood.

Third rank: red rosewood.

Fourth rank: other rosewood species.

Fifth rank: Southeast Asian huali wood, chicken-wing wood, "red sandalwood" of the Fabaceae family, and South American and African white rosewood, etc.

Sixth rank: South American and African huali wood.