kanpachiga 捍撥画

A painting depicted on a plectrum guard kanpachi 捍溌, a sheet of leather attached to stringed instruments, such as the Japanese lute biwa 琵琶 in order to protect the wooden body from accidental damage by the hard plectrum. The oldest examples are preserved in the *Shōsōin 正倉院 Repository and include: The Musicians on the Back of an Elephant, Kizō sōgaku zu 騎象奏楽図 (8th century), which was probably brought from China; and The Hunting Party, Shuryōenraku zu 狩猟宴楽図 (7th century), probably a Japanese imitation of a Chinese original. The painting is depicted on primed leather, then coated with oil.