Caring for Hanging Scrolls

Japanese hanging scrolls, kakejiku, are made to be rolled away and brought out for a season. Handled with care, a scroll can last for centuries. Handled carelessly, it can crease and crack in a single afternoon. This page explains good practice.

Parts of a scroll

• Honshi. The painting or calligraphy itself.
• Ichimonji. The narrow bands of fine silk above and below the work.
• Fūtai. The two hanging strips at the top of some mountings.
• Jikusaki. The roller ends, of wood, lacquer, ceramic, ivory or bone.
• Hassō. The upper rod, with the hanging cord.

Hanging

• Use a forked pole, yahazu, to lift the scroll by its cord onto the hook.
• Unroll it slowly downwards, supporting the roller until the scroll hangs freely.
• Choose a wall away from direct sun, heaters, air conditioning and damp.
• In Japan, scrolls are changed with the seasons. Displaying a scroll for weeks rather than years protects it from light and dust.

Rolling

• Lift the scroll down and lay it on a clean, flat surface.
• Roll it from the bottom, evenly and not too tightly, keeping the edges aligned.
• Never roll a scroll tightly or crush it, as this causes horizontal creases, oresuji, that crack the painting over time.
• Wrap the cord around the scroll in the traditional way and secure it without pulling hard.

Storage

• Keep the scroll in its wooden box, which buffers changes in humidity. A paulownia box is ideal.
• Store boxes horizontally in a stable environment, away from outside walls and damp floors.
• Let a scroll that has travelled rest in its box for a day before unrolling it, so it can adjust to the room.
• Air scrolls on dry days once or twice a year.

Restoration

Remounting, hyōsō, is a skilled craft, and old scrolls often benefit from it. Flaking pigment, deep creases and stains should be treated by a specialist mounter rather than at home.

Related references

• Glossary of Washi Paper
• Glossary of Box Inscriptions
• Framing and conservation
• Nihonga and mineral pigments