摺すり師し

Meanings

woodblock printer

A craftsman who prints using woodblocks, especially in traditional ukiyo-e production. The term is specific to the printing stage, distinct from the carver (彫師) or designer (絵師).

浮うき世よ絵えの制せい作さくでは、摺すり師しが色いろを重かさねて刷すっていく。
In ukiyo-e production, the woodblock printer applies colors layer by layer.
彼かれは熟じゅく練れんの摺すり師しとして、何なん百びゃく枚まいもの版はん画がを手てがけた。
As a skilled woodblock printer, he produced hundreds of prints.

Kanji

摺rub, fold, print (on cloth)
師expert, teacher, master
刷printing, print, brush

Related words

彫ほり師し
彫師 is the carver who cuts the design into the woodblock, while 摺師 is the printer who applies ink and prints the image.
絵え師し
絵師 is the artist who creates the original design, whereas 摺師 executes the printing process.

Written forms

摺すり師し
Standard kanji spelling for a woodblock printer, using 摺 (printing) and 師 (master).
刷すり師しUsage100%
Variant using 刷 (printing) with okurigana; also seen.
摺すり師し
Variant of 摺師 with okurigana; less common but understandable.
刷すり師し
Rare variant without okurigana; may be encountered in older texts.

Etymology

Compound of 摺 (すり, 'printing') + 師 (し, 'master, specialist'). The kanji 摺 specifically refers to printing from blocks, distinguishing it from general printing (印刷).