Ten Brave Retainers of Oguri, One by One

(Oguri jû-yûshi no ichi-nin, 小栗十勇士の一人)

Publisher: Yawata-ya Sakujirô

c. 1843

This series of prints is based upon the legend Oguri Hangwan monogatari (The Tales of Oguri Hangwan). In brief, Oguri Hangwan Sukeshige was rendered a cripple after being poisoned by his wicked stepmother. He met a girl, Terute-hime, with whose help and prayer he was cured. He became a great warrior, vanquishing the pirate Kazama Hachirô Masakuni among others. The ten retainers referred to in the title of this series of twelve prints may be intended to exclude Oguri Hangwan and Terute-hime. Each panel in this series is about 10 by 7 inches (25 by 18 centimeters), a size known as chûban.

Terute-hime seated in a wooden cart with a rope attached Robinson: S26.2

Oguri Hangwan Sukeshige standing with closed fan Robinson: S26.1

Gotô Daihachirô Takatsugu cooking over a fire of burning arrows Robinson: S26.4

Gotô Hyôsuke Suketaka holding his horse and a naginata Robinson: S26.3

Tanabe Heihachirô Nagatame wiping his sword Robinson: S26.6

Tanabe Heirokurô Nagahide with three arrows in his back drinking Onikage brand sake from a casket Robinson: S26.5

Kazama Hachirô Masakuni shining a lantern upward Robinson: S26.8

Mitono Kotarô Tamehisa shining a lantern upward Robinson: S26.7

Kazama Jirô Masasada grasping his sword in both hands Robinson: S26.10

Ike-no-shôji Sukenaga leaning on his sword Robinson: S26.9

Katayama Katarô Harunori (形山加太郎春教) holding his sword behind his back with both hands Robinson: S26.12

Katayama Kajirô Harutaka (形山加次郎春高) in armor raising his hat Robinson: S26.11

“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.

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