etoki 絵解

A written or spoken explanation of *shaji engi-e 社寺縁起絵 (historical scenes from history of a shrine or temple) or *kōsōden-e 高僧伝絵, pointing out the scenes like a story. Pictures used for etoki are usually painted on screens or hanging scrolls. In big temples where this kind of picture exist, there were specialized writers of etoki, called etokisō 絵解僧 or etoki hōshi 絵解法師 who later left the temples and became itinerant artists. The practice still survives in some temples such as Dōjōji 道成寺 which is famous for Dōjōji engi 道成寺縁起.