The Chodaigamae (or decorative doors) is an architectural element of Shoin Architecture that lost its functionality after its inception. Originally the door separated the raised floor section of a room to a secondary space, which was often times either a storage room or a sleeping area. The doors were fixtures marginalizing public and private spaces. Sometimes the spaces behind the chodaigamae held bodyguards of the samurai so that they can have easy access and escape from the space. However, as with the three other display elements of the shoin, the functionality gave way to display since they essentially became static panels. In the case of the chodaigamae, the display was the architectural element itself which depending upon its showiness demonstrated the wealth of the samurai.
 
 

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