Picture Explanation Master - Etokihoushi

In the Middle Ages, 'e-kai' referred to the act of explaining illustrated legends of temples and shrines, or biographies of the founders of various Buddhist sects, and also referred to people who made a living from doing so. Those who looked like monks were called 'e-kai-hoshi'. Many of them were blind and sang along to the biwa. Some were stationed at large temples and shrines, while others spent their days traveling, but all had very low social status. From around the end of the Muromachi period, the work of 'e-kai' was taken over by traveling nuns known as 'e-kai-bikuni' ('kanjin-bikuni').

[Kiyoshi Yokoi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

絵解きは、中世に、寺社の縁起(えんぎ)や仏教諸派の祖師の伝記を図絵に仕立てたものを解説すること、また、それを生業とした人々をさし、法体(ほったい)（僧の姿）のものは絵解法師とよばれた。琵琶(びわ)にあわせて歌い語る盲人も多かった。大寺社に常駐してその任務にあたる者もあれば、遍歴に明け暮れる者もあったが、いずれもその社会的地位はいたって低かった。室町時代末ごろから、絵解の仕事は絵解比丘尼(びくに)（勧進(かんじん)比丘尼）とよばれる遍歴の尼(あま)に引き継がれた。

［横井　清］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例