Artist (illustrator) - Eshi

Japanese: 画師(絵師) - えし

Generally, it refers to a person who makes a living by painting pictures, or their occupation, but before modern times it also indicated social rank or status. According to the Nihon Shoki, the Kibumi and Yamashiro clans are known to have been the first to refer to themselves as painters in 604 (the 12th year of the reign of Empress Suiko). In the early 7th century, painters were officially given the surname of an official position to those with hereditary skills among certain clans who served the ancient Yamato court. As government-run businesses became more active, new clans with the surname painter, such as those from Yamato, Koma, Suhata, and Kawachi, began to play an active role.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

一般に絵をえがくことを生業とする人，またはその職業をさすが，近代以前には社会的地位や身分をもあらわす。《日本書紀》によると，黄文（きぶみ）･山背（やましろ）両氏族が604年(推古12)に初めて〈画師〉を称したことが知られる。この7世紀初頭における画師は，すなわち，古代大和朝廷に奉仕していた特定氏族の世襲化した技芸に対して公式に与えられた，官職としての姓（かばね）であった。やがて，官営事業が活発になると，あらたに倭（やまと），高麗（こま），簀秦（すはた），河内などの画師姓諸氏族が活躍するようになる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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