The main theme of this presentation is to consider the meaning of spaces defined by gilded folding screens.

A gilded folding screen is a screen for which gold is used as the background, and on which in many cases flowers and/or birds with seasonal landscape are depicted. It was regarded as an important gift and export from Japan to China and Korea; although the form of the folding screen itself originated in China, the gold background was unique to Japan.

Unlike pictures on room partitions, which are architecturally fixed, folding screens are generally portable, which enabled them to create a temporary space as the occasion demanded. Folding screens functioned as borders between interior and exterior spaces and in ritual spaces. Above all, the glittering and gorgeous surface of the gilded screens was suitable for and, indeed, could create extraordinary spaces for religious rituals. The space enclosed by the gold screens could be transformed into an ideal space, if just for a passing moment.

As an example of this kind of transformation, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the general who conquered Japan in the late 16th century, commissioned a portable golden teahouse. Hideyoshi brought this teahouse to the Imperial Palace and served a cup of tea to the emperor. He could not be seated with the emperor in ordinary space, but since hierarchical distinctions are ignored in the extraordinary space of the teahouse, he could take advantage of this to be seated with the emperor.

In this way, the golden tea house functioned as a gilded folding screen.