FAQs About Shoji Room Dividers

A shoji room divider, or shoji screen, is an ancient Japanese invention used to divide rooms when it is impossible and impractical to install another wall, door or curtain. It has many benefits, the most obvious of which is its light weight, which makes it easy to put up or move.

Q: How old is the technology?

A: The Japanese have used shoji room dividers since the period when it was occupied by the Han dynasty of China. They were wooden pieces featuring panels of translucent rice paper inserts; the Han used them to divide up interior space, illuminate rooms and provide a sense of calmness. They were unknown in the West until American architect Frank Lloyd Wright brought them stateside after a trip to Japan; he used them to create a “whole living environment.”

Q: How do they work?

A: A Shoji has a number of wooden leaves that either fold against each other or slide past each other. Each leaf has a frame with a wooden lattice covered with rice paper. These panes, known as “kimiko,” let a diffused light shine through to illuminate the living space. Since rice paper is very thin and easy to puncture, which requires the user to replace them every year, many modern Shoji are made of stronger, washable synthetic alternatives that do not require annual replacement.

Q: How can you use a Shoji?

A: You can use a Shoji as a room divider or a treatment for windows and doors, create cabinets or wall coverings or get dressed behind them. The majority of Shoji are traditional sliding screens or freestanding folding units, but they are also available as modern sliding doors and folding tracks.