Donated to SCVC by the family of Doug Ryan in 2025. 119 pages.
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3 responses to “Making Shoji”
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Xiaohan checked out the book on November 13, 2025
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Xiaohan, thank you for returning the book on 12/11/2025.
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Making Shoji is far more than a woodworking manual—it is an invitation to step into a different way of seeing and relating to the materials around us. One idea in the book that struck me deeply is the belief held by many Japanese woodworkers: wood is a living material, and therefore deserves to be treated with respect, patience, and appreciation. This perspective transforms woodworking from a technical craft into a dialogue between the maker and the material.
As someone who enjoys wood carving and similar forms of hands-on creation, I resonated strongly with this attitude. Working with wood is not just about producing an object; it becomes a process of self-reflection. The way I carve, shape, and refine a piece of wood inevitably reveals my inner state—my attitude, my temperament, and the values I bring to the work. There is an honesty in this relationship: wood does not lie, and it does not allow me to hide from myself.
The book helped me articulate something I have long felt but never fully expressed—the idea that craft can be a form of personal cultivation. When I work with wood with respect and intentionality, I am not only shaping the material; I am also shaping my mind.
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