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English site explaining all about fusuma, with diagrams and photos
Momoyama, Japanese Art in the Age of Grandeur
an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on fusuma Japanese architectural features Japanese architectural styles Japanese home Types of wall Doors Partitions in traditional Japanese architecture {{Japan-struct-stub
In Japanese architecture
has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors ('' fusuma'') and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space ...
, are vertical rectangular panels which can slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room, or act as doors. They typically measure about wide by tall, the same size as a ''tatami
are soft mats used as flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. They are made in standard sizes, twice as long as wide, about , depending on the region. In martial arts, tatami are used for training in a dojo and for competition.
...
'' mat, and are thick. The heights of ''fusuma'' have increased in recent years due to an increase in average height of the Japanese population, and a height is now common. In older constructions, they are as small as high. They consist of a lattice-like wooden understructure covered in cardboard and a layer of paper or cloth on both sides. They typically have a black lacquer
Lacquer is a type of hard and usually shiny coating or finish applied to materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity.
Asian lacquerware, which may be c ...
border and a round finger catch.
Historically, ''fusuma'' were painted, often with scenes from nature such as mountains, forests or animals. Today, many feature plain mulberry paper, or have industrially-printed graphics of fans, autumn leaves, cherry blossom
The cherry blossom, or sakura, is the flower of trees in ''Prunus'' subgenus '' Cerasus''. ''Sakura'' usually refers to flowers of ornamental cherry trees, such as cultivars of ''Prunus serrulata'', not trees grown for their fruit (although ...
, trees, or geometric graphics. Patterns for children featuring popular characters can also be purchased.
Both ''fusuma'' and ''shōji
A is a door, window or room divider used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of Transparency and translucency, translucent (or transparent) sheets on a lattice frame. Where light transmission is not needed, the similar but opaq ...
'' are room dividers that run on wooden rails at the top and bottom. The upper rail is called a , and the lower is called a . Traditionally these were waxed, but nowadays they usually have a vinyl lubricating strip to ease movement of the ''fusuma'' and ''shōji''. Fusuma are typically made of opaque cloth or paper, while shōji are made of sheer, translucent paper.
''Fusuma'' and ''shōji'', along with ''tatami'' straw mats (for the floor), make up a typical Japanese room.
See also
*List of partitions of traditional Japanese architecture
Traditional Japanese architecture uses post-and-lintel structures – vertical posts, connected by horizontal beams. Rafters are traditionally the only structural member used in Timber framing#Japanese, Japanese timber framing that are neither hori ...
* Shōji
A is a door, window or room divider used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of Transparency and translucency, translucent (or transparent) sheets on a lattice frame. Where light transmission is not needed, the similar but opaq ...
References
External links
*English site explaining all about fusuma, with diagrams and photos
Momoyama, Japanese Art in the Age of Grandeur
an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on fusuma Japanese architectural features Japanese architectural styles Japanese home Types of wall Doors Partitions in traditional Japanese architecture {{Japan-struct-stub