After medieval times when the paintings of Sung and Yuan such as ink-wash paintings were accepted mainly by the temples of the Zen sect and ink-wash paintings and pictures of Han (by Kano School, and so on) were produced, the paintings in the traditional style with characteristically dark colors were called Yamato-e.
中世以降、禅林を中心に水墨画など中国宋(王朝)・元(王朝)の絵画が受容され、日本でも水墨画や漢画（狩野派など）が制作されるようになると、これに対して濃彩を特色とした伝統的な描法・様式で描かれた絵画を大和絵と称するようになった。