Paintings directly executed on sliding doors made of cryptomeria wood *sugido 杉戸 which functioned as exits and entrances to hallways. The term already appears in Fujiwara Teika's 藤原定家 (1162-1241) diary Meigetsuki 明月記, and illustrations of sugido-e are found in handscrolls *emaki 絵巻 of the late Kamakura period. The earliest extant example appears to be in the main hall, Hondō 本堂 of Kakurinji 鶴林寺 (1397), Hyōgo Prefecture.
Most sugido-e depict birds, flowers or animals. Since the majority omit an undercoat, the grain of the wood serves as a background for the motifs. The wood grain also discouraged complex designs, so generally the motifs are large and simple. The most famous example is probably Sōtatsu's 宗達 (?-1640?) Zō・Karajishi-zu 象・唐獅子図 (Elephant and Chinese Lion) at Yōgen'in 養源院 (1594), Kyoto.