In comparison to "eshi" (painters) who belonged to "edokoro" (a workshop for paintings) in the Imperial Court, painters who were engaged on painting Buddhist statues under the patronage by the powerful temples and shrines were called "ebusshi."
また、宮中の絵所に属する絵師に対して、有力な寺社勢力の庇護のもと、寺社の絵像の制作に従事した絵師たちを絵仏師（えぶっし）と呼んだ。