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The original meaning of the word "Shoji" is "something to
obstruct". It used to indicate every partitions and screens in a home
between 8th and 12th century, Japan. Since there were hardly any walls
in a house, people used fabric, paper and wood to part a section from
the rest. Free standing screens, folding screens, roll-up bamboo
blinds, were all called shoji at that time. |
Old shojis in a reserved
home in Nagano
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Gold folding screen behind the emperor and the empress dolls
(Girl's Festival in Japan) |
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Sometime in
12th century, "Akari shoji" = "Light shoji" was invented. This is more
like the shoji we know now. It had wood frames, grids (kumiko) and
paper on it. Sometimes fabric was used instead of paper, and it was
called "Fusuma". Paper and fabric were used to bring some light in the
room and to keep privacy at the same time.
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Front doors with high hip board
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Akari shoji wasn't durable enough against dirt, rain or wind.
A hip board was added later to the Akari shoji and it became quite
practical. |
The lights through shoji
paper give
the entire room a nice and soft glow.
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Old tea
shop
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With the spread of tea ceremony in late 16th
century, Akari shoji without hip board became more popular for the
lights it brings in to the tea room. This style is now very common in
Japanese homes. |
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