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 Japanese timber framing that are neither horizontal nor vertical. The rest of the structure is non-load-bearing.

While fixed walls are used, a variety of movable partitions are also used to fill the spaces between the pillars. They may be free-standing, hung from lintels, or, especially in later buildings, sliding panels which can readily be removed from their grooves. Their type, number, and position are adjusted according to the weather without and the activities within. They are used to modify the view, light, temperature, humidity, and ventilation, and to divide the interior space.

The timbers are called hashira, the space between them is called hashira-ma; thus, the items filling the hashira-ma are termed hashira-ma equipment.

Pictorial overview

Museum model of the Saikū, the Saiō's palace. An inner square room with plaster walls contains a chōdai sleeping canopy; a second inner room with kabeshiro wall-curtains contains byōbu folding screens; the far outer wall shows horizontally-hinged shitomi shutters, and the near outer wall has misu blinds. Kichō screens stand on the near side of the hishashi outer corridor, and on the short sides of the same corridor.
A full-scale model of part of the same palace. The Saiō sits on a tatami dais, with a byōbu behind her, a kichō to her left, and a boxlike chōdai (帳台, baldachin) to her right. Above and before her, a kabeshiro (壁代, wall-curtain) is rolled and tied up. Museum reconstruction of the Heian period's Shinden style.
An 1100s (late Heian period) illustration, showing a misu bound in green cloth (rolled, above), a grey kabeshiro with multicoloured streamers (half of it tied up behind the misu hung from the same lintel), three kichō (two white with black streamers, and one orange with multicolour streamers), a byōbu (right), and fusuma (right rear, matching byōbu).
Transition from Shinden style to Shoin style. Between the young man and the seated nun, sliding fusuma; behind them, non-sliding fusuma. On the young man's side, hajitomi shutters, horizontally split, with the upper half held up by hooks. On the nun's side, there are diagonally-planked sliding maira-do. Behind the young man speaking with the maidservant, similar non-sliding panels.
Sukiya style, early 20th century. Garasu-do, sudare, shōji, and plaster walls are visible. The garasu-do use large single glass panes, which would have been extremely expensive before float glass became available in the 1960s.
Throne on display in the Kyoto Imperial Palace; from outside inwards, blue-bound misu blinds, pillar slots for shitomi shutters (currently removed), white kabeshiro (wall-curtains) caught up with red-and-black nosuji (野筋) ties, and chōdai (canopy and dais, in red and purple). Older styles often persist in rare ceremonial use.