Otsu-e / 大津絵
Otsu-e are paintings that were sold as souvenirs or protective charms to travelers around Oiwake and Otani along the Tokaido road during the Edo period. They began to be painted as Buddhist images around the Kan'ei era (1624–1644). Originally created for religious devotion, these paintings gradually evolved into secular artworks.
From around the 18th century, Otsu-e started to feature moralistic and satirical themes. During the Bunka and Bunsei periods (1804–1829), a set of representative subjects known as the "Ten Types of Otsu-e" was established. The inclusion of Buddhist teachings in some of these works is thought to be influenced by the presence of large temples nearby, such as Enryaku-ji, Onjo-ji, and Ishiyama-dera.