E-toki (絵解き, "picture deciphering, picture explaining") refers to a Japanese Buddhist practice of using an emaki (hand picture, a painted hand scroll) or picture halls (rooms with pictures either painted onto the walls, or containing a series of hanging scrolls) to explain a Buddhist principle.
The earliest examples of e-toki are of a monk pointing to a picture in a picture hall and explaining the story of either Shakyamuni (the historical Buddha) or another important Buddhist monk, most notably Prince Shotoku who is often attributed with bringing Buddhism to Japan from China, or in the case of secular e-maki, exposing the hidden Buddhist message behind the images. The earliest examples of e-toki where only performed to a small group of the ruling class, and only upon special request.
These early performances were non-accompanied, and a solo monk would use a pointer with a soft cotton tip to tap the paintings in areas that exemplified the point to be made ( the cotton tip was to reduce the wear on the scrolls, many emaki show the wear of these performances despite this precaution with areas of the paint flaked off in vital image areas).
The practice started to move out of picture halls and become more of a public performance around the 11th century. At that time music began to accompany the picture telling. A blind monk[clarification needed] would play the biwa as a sighted monk would tell the story and point to the picture. Music would be composed for specific stories,[1] and the e-toki timed to correlate dramatic moments within the story to the music. Monks would often perform e-toki in exchange for gifts of food or money, and traveling e-toki performing monks would set up and preach on bridges or roadsides for any audience.
Practiceedit
E-toki is often performed by a monk or nun, but may also be performed by a layperson. Originally monks would preach from these pictures in private audiences for the elite and ruling class. As early as the year 931 AD the practice of e-toki is seen documented in written accounts.[2] Though the practice of e-toki diminished after the 17th Century, it is still performed at festivals and upon special request at temples today.
Referencesedit
^Saeki, Satomi, Japanese Traditional Koto and Shakuhachi music, Footnotes of the CD: An explanation of how composition is tied to performance
^Kaminishi, Ikumi (2006). Explaining Pictures - Buddhist Propaganda and Etoki Storytelling in Japan, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
External linksedit
Monika Dix (2006). Review: Explaining Pictures - Buddhist Propaganda and Etoki Storytelling in Japan
December 20, 2023
toki, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2014, learn, when, re. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources E toki news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message E toki 絵解き picture deciphering picture explaining refers to a Japanese Buddhist practice of using an emaki hand picture a painted hand scroll or picture halls rooms with pictures either painted onto the walls or containing a series of hanging scrolls to explain a Buddhist principle Contents 1 History 2 Practice 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe earliest examples of e toki are of a monk pointing to a picture in a picture hall and explaining the story of either Shakyamuni the historical Buddha or another important Buddhist monk most notably Prince Shotoku who is often attributed with bringing Buddhism to Japan from China or in the case of secular e maki exposing the hidden Buddhist message behind the images The earliest examples of e toki where only performed to a small group of the ruling class and only upon special request These early performances were non accompanied and a solo monk would use a pointer with a soft cotton tip to tap the paintings in areas that exemplified the point to be made the cotton tip was to reduce the wear on the scrolls many emaki show the wear of these performances despite this precaution with areas of the paint flaked off in vital image areas The practice started to move out of picture halls and become more of a public performance around the 11th century At that time music began to accompany the picture telling A blind monk clarification needed would play the biwa as a sighted monk would tell the story and point to the picture Music would be composed for specific stories 1 and the e toki timed to correlate dramatic moments within the story to the music Monks would often perform e toki in exchange for gifts of food or money and traveling e toki performing monks would set up and preach on bridges or roadsides for any audience Practice editE toki is often performed by a monk or nun but may also be performed by a layperson Originally monks would preach from these pictures in private audiences for the elite and ruling class As early as the year 931 AD the practice of e toki is seen documented in written accounts 2 Though the practice of e toki diminished after the 17th Century it is still performed at festivals and upon special request at temples today References edit Saeki Satomi Japanese Traditional Koto and Shakuhachi music Footnotes of the CD An explanation of how composition is tied to performance Kaminishi Ikumi 2006 Explaining Pictures Buddhist Propaganda and Etoki Storytelling in Japan Honolulu University of Hawaii Press External links editMonika Dix 2006 Review Explaining Pictures Buddhist Propaganda and Etoki Storytelling in Japan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title E toki amp oldid 1169489472, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
