History of Byobu
Byobu Screens originated in China; prototypes have been found dating to the Han dynasty (206 B.C. ~ 220 A.D.). The custom of decorative byobu, unique to Asian art, can be traced to palace murals of the seventh century T'ang Dynasty. Japanese artisans began making their own byobu in the seventh century. Early on, calligraphy, due to the Chinese influence, dominated byobu façades but Japanese artists soon began adding their own touches by depicting nature and famous locales.
Expensive to produce due to the amount of labor and expertise involved, byobu were usually
commissioned by patrons to demonstrate their wealth and social status. The rise of the
samurai class led to more extravagant designs and the use of gold leaf, which is purported to
be over 7,000 years old and originated in Egypt. Gold leaf was first used on byobu in the
16th century, after monochromatic ink paintings became an important style in Japanese byobu
in the 14th century. For the samurai, it was important politically to convey his rank and
status at ceremonies receiving guests through his palace's interior decor. This led to fusuma
(sliding door) and byobu being painted in vibrant colors and gold leaf, and displayed in
staterooms.
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