Japanese Shoji Screens

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