noun
paintings on room partitions; sliding-door paintings; screen paintings
Refers to traditional Japanese paintings on fusuma (sliding doors), byōbu (folding screens), or other room partitions. Often used in the context of temple or castle interior decoration.
二条城の障壁画は重要文化財に指定されている。
The screen paintings at Nijō Castle are designated as Important Cultural Properties.
この寺には狩野派の障壁画が残って
This temple retains screen paintings by the Kanō school.
屏風絵 refers to paintings on folding screens (byōbu), a subset of 障壁画.
Compound of 障壁 (shōheki, 'partition') + 画 (ga, 'picture'). The term is used in art history to describe traditional Japanese interior paintings.