| In Asian décor in the east and west an | | | | - All sizes and forms of Shoji Screens were |
| item called a Japanese Shoji Screen is used | | | | used as room dividers, privacy screens, to |
| as either a room divider or a form of | | | | separate interior and exterior rooms, and |
| decoration. A Japanese Shoji Screen is a | | | | even used so as to see the silhouettes of a |
| room divider or door that is made up of rice | | | | garden or plants. |
| paper fitted to a wooden frame and are made | | | | |
| to be light so as it is easy to move them. | | | | - . These screens were even used during |
| These screens can be considered works of art | | | | Buddhist ceremonies. |
| because, as with all Japanese art, these | | | | |
| screens were built from the earth's natural | | | | Traditional Japanese Shoji Screens may have |
| beauty. A Shoji screen was used as doors, | | | | had artwork on them, symbolizing the many |
| room dividers, and as privacy screens. | | | | Asian and/or Japanese traditions, legends, |
| Folding screens, like the Shoji Screen, was | | | | and the history. This artwork was |
| first introduced by China around the 8th | | | | concentrated at the bottom of the screens |
| century A.D. China might have invented | | | | because it was customary that people would |
| folding screens but it was Japan who came up | | | | sit on the floor, so, naturally the artwork |
| with the most popular variations of these | | | | was at eyelevel. The art was usually hand |
| screens and introduced them to western | | | | painted, and detailed, but still minimal in |
| countries. | | | | design, because, all of Japanese art revolves |
| | | | around being simple, natural, and calming |
| Japanese Shoji screens come in different | | | | |
| sizes and each size may serve a different | | | | Around the 19th century, the western world |
| purpose. The use of the screen determined | | | | began to take notice of the Japanese Shoji |
| how many folds the screen had. The following | | | | Screens, thus began the modernization of the |
| list is some of the different sizes of Shoji | | | | screen. As the demand of Shoji Screens grew |
| Screens and what they were traditionally used | | | | more people, who were not as skilled in |
| for: | | | | creating screens, started making them in |
| | | | Japan. The Shoji Screens were still elegant |
| - Small, two-fold, Shoji screens: these | | | | and still had the Japanese design, but were |
| screens were used for things like tea | | | | becoming more like Chinese screens. Newer |
| ceremonies. | | | | materials and more ornate colors are now used |
| | | | to make these screens because the western |
| - Large, eight-fold, Shoji Screens: These | | | | world is more relaxed when it comes to the |
| screens may have been used as the back drops | | | | decoration of ones home. Japanese Shoji |
| during dances. | | | | screens are still used as room dividers, but, |
| | | | they are also used to decorate spaces, to |
| - Sliding Shoji Screens of all sizes were | | | | hide things, and maybe be used as window |
| used for doors and/or windows, so as to | | | | covers. The modern form of Shoji Screens |
| conserve space and keep with the simplistic | | | | are still very light as to allow them to be |
| designs. | | | | moved whenever needed. |
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