Japanese Shoji Screens :: Black Calligraphy Character Screen

All things have a story...

The folding screen started off in China around 300 BC and was originally developed to be a permanent divider or partition. They were painted with beautiful artwork and noblemen and royalty were the only ones who could afford them. Most of these early Chinese screens were made from wood with prominent frames and leather or cloth hinges. A small percentage of screens were made with paper. Some centuries later, the idea of the folding screen made its way to Japan. The Japanese took the art of screen making to a new level and had many uses for it. Some of these uses were for religious rituals, tea ceremonies, decoration, to create a sense of privacy and also as the backdrop of plays, dances or concerts.

The Japanese have six basic screen designs. The "byobu" is a folding screen; the "tsuitate" is a single panel screen; the "fusuma" is a sliding door; the "tobusuma" is a wood sliding door; the "sugido" is a cedar board screen and the "shoji" is the modern terminology for a translucent or semi-transparent paper window or door. These various types of screens permeated Japanese homes for over a thousand years, with the West knowing little or nothing about them until the arrival of ships from the Western countries in the 16th century.

Portugal was one of the first foreign countries to dock its ships in the ports of Japan. It soon realized the beauty and practical essence of Japanese folding screens. They were imported back to Europe to show the royal families. Eventually the Japanese screens were modified to suit the European’s needs.

But a ban on trade soon after stopped imports from leaving Japan until Commodore Perry of the U.S. arrived in Japan in 1853. This marked a turning point for Japan, as it began its ascent to Westernization. It also allowed European countries and North America to gain full access to the rich tradition of Japanese shoji screens. They were imported in great number and eventually displayed at the 1867 International Exhibition for Industry and Art in Paris, France.

From that time on, Japanese folding screens were in huge demand and became all the rage in the Western world. Today, people from all over the world appreciate their artistic flair and remarkable beauty. Shoji screens at present are constructed in a wide range of materials, finishes, heights, sizes and styles to suit everyone’s needs.