The Complete Guide to Shoji and Kumiko Patterns Volume 1

With a history dating back nearly a thousand years, shoji—translucent paper-backed sliding doors and screens—are as much a part of Japanese life as sushi and sumo; but their beauty and charm can equally be adapted to any Western home.

In their simplest form, shoji appear to be no more than a few pieces of wood joined together and attached to a frame with some paper stuck on the back. And this is certainly not an inaccurate description. But it’s how those pieces of wood are joined together and the wonderfully elaborate patterns they can make, how they blend into the supporting framework, and how they harmonize with the surrounding décor are what make shoji so captivating.

Mieru kedo, mienai — Seen, but not seen. Shoji fill the room with a gentle soft light, and the play of light and shadows on the shoji paper introduces a fascinating ambiguity that has a very calming effect on the soul.

So how are these pieces of wood (called kumiko) joined together, and what are these patterns? This book goes part of the way to answering that.

It very briefly covers the origins of shoji and how they have developed into their modern form, and the broad classifications of the different types and designs of shoji. It then gives detailed step-by-step instructions on making two different kinds of shoji—the first is a standard simple shoji, and the second is a slightly more complex design with different joinery. The book then gives detailed instructions on the four different methods of making the asa-no-ha, perhaps the best-known and most attractive kumiko pattern in shoji making.

A series of sawing and joinery exercises, detailed diagrams of eleven jigs to help you accurately cut the various angles necessary for the kumiko patterns, and a total of 185 dimensional drawings and photographs help to guide you every step of the way.

Discovering the vast range of patterns possible with shoji and kumiko is indeed a long journey, and this book is the first critical step. It lays the foundations for tackling the increasingly complex and challenging shoji and patterns subsequent books will tackle. I hope you will join me in this journey.