書かき割わり

か

き

わ

り

Meanings

flat; painted backdrop piece

A portable painted panel used as part of the stage scenery in kabuki and other traditional theater. Often a flat piece of scenery that can be moved or changed quickly.

歌か舞ぶ伎きでは、書かき割わりを素す早ばやく入いれ替かえて場ば面めん転てん換かんを行おこなう。
In kabuki, they quickly change the flats to switch scenes.
あの書かき割わりは江え戸どの町まち並なみを描えがいている。
That backdrop piece depicts an Edo-period townscape.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

書write
割proportion, comparatively, divide

Related words

背はい景けい
背景 is a general term for background or backdrop, while 書き割り specifically refers to a painted flat used in traditional theater.
大おお道どう具ぐ
大道具 refers to large stage props and scenery in general; 書き割り is a type of 大道具, specifically a painted flat.

Written forms

書かき割わりUsage42%
Standard modern spelling with okurigana.
書かき割わりUsage58%
Abbreviated kanji spelling; common in theater contexts.
書かき割わり
Less common variant; 書き割り is preferred.

Etymology

Compound of 書き (kaki, 'writing' or 'painting') + 割り (wari, 'splitting' or 'dividing'), referring to painted panels that can be split or moved. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with kabuki stagecraft.