word picture; sketch-like prose
A literary term for prose that vividly depicts a scene or subject in a sketch-like manner, often associated with the Meiji-era literary movement led by Masaoka Shiki.
Masaoka Shiki is known as the advocate of shaseibun (sketch-like prose).
This essay depicts nature using the technique of shaseibun.
Compound of 写生 (shasei, 'sketching from life') and 文 (bun, 'writing, prose'). The term was popularized by Masaoka Shiki in the Meiji period as part of his literary reform movement.