shin-ei 真影

Also *miei 御影, *eizō 影像, or ei 影. A portrait in sculpture or painting. The subject was usually a high priest or a founder of a Buddhist sect. The portraits were made as a memorial, a symbol of respect, or for worship of the person depicted. They were not always modelled from life, but were sometimes imaginary, idealized images. Famous examples of shin-ei are the Shingon goso gazō 真言五祖画像 (Portrait of Five Shingon Patriarchs) in Tōji 東寺, Kyoto, and the Jion Daishi gazō 慈恩大師画像 (Portrait of Priest Jion Daishi) in Yakushiji 薬師寺, Nara.