It is a term which is opposed to the term 'Kara-e,' i.e., paintings in Chinese style, and it refers to the painting in Japanese style which was developed in the era of the Kokufu Bunka (Japan's original national culture) during the Heian period.
中国風の絵画「唐絵」（からえ）に対する呼称であり平安時代の国風文化の時期に発達した日本的な絵画のこと。