Why “Shikishi” Doesn’t Mean “Colored Paper” — And Why That Matters

In English, the Japanese word shikishi is sometimes translated as “colored paper.” At first glance, it seems to make sense: the kanji characters 色紙 literally mean “color” (色) and “paper” (紙). But in practice, this translation is both misleading and reductive.

Shikishi boards

In modern Japanese, the same characters (色紙) can be read in two ways:

• いろがみ (irogami) — colored paper used for crafts or origami

• しきし (shikishi) — a specific type of art board used for poetry, calligraphy, and painting

  
  

While irogami refers to simple, often mass-produced colored paper, shikishi is something much more refined. Traditionally, a shikishi is a layered washi paperboard with a hard backing and a gold foil border, used in artistic and literary contexts. These boards have been part of Japanese cultural life for centuries, often exchanged as gifts inscribed with poetry or adorned with brush paintings.

Because many shikishi are beautifully decorated—sometimes with gold or silver foil or colored backgrounds—it’s understandable how the term “colored paper” might have gained traction. But this translation overlooks the board’s material construction, formal use, and cultural depth. It reduces a culturally meaningful object to a generic label.

From the gallery

Art San Gallery presents original works on Japanese shikishi boards, alongside a curated selection of sculpture and mixed-media pieces. Discover Ortaire de Coupigny and his works.

→ View Ortaire de Coupigny