Soft x-ray emission through the 4d-4f resonance of Dy{sub 2}O{sub 3} is studied with monochromatic photon excitation. The different soft x-ray emission processes are compared and it is found that inelastic scattering due to 4f inner-shell excitation and resonant elastic scattering are the strongest emission processes followed by inelastic scattering due to 5p-4f net transitions. The nonresonant emission occurring for excitation energies above the 4d-4f resonance is an extremely weak process. The measurements are in good agreement with our calculations. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.