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薄肉彫り (うすにくぼり) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

薄うす肉にく彫ぼり

う

す

に

く

ぼ

り

Meanings

1

noun

bas-relief; low relief

A sculptural technique where the carved figures project only slightly from the background. Used in art and architectural contexts.

この寺じ院いんの壁かべには薄うす肉にく彫ぼりの仏ぶつ像ぞうが並ならんでいる。
The walls of this temple are lined with bas-relief Buddha images.
薄うす肉にく彫ぼりは古

こ

代だい

から

使つか

わ

れ

て

き

た

彫ちょう

刻こく

技ぎ

法ほう

だ

。

Bas-relief is a sculptural technique that has been used since ancient times.

Kanji

薄dilute, thin, weak (tea)
肉meat
彫carve, engrave, chisel

Similar words

高たか肉にく彫ぼり
高肉彫り (high relief) has figures that project more prominently from the background, while 薄肉彫り (bas-relief) has only slight projection.
レリーフ
レリーフ is a broader loanword for relief sculpture, while 薄肉彫り specifically refers to low relief.

Etymology

Compound of 薄い (thin) + 肉 (flesh, here meaning the raised part of a carving) + 彫り (carving). The term describes a carving where the raised part is thin, i.e., low relief.