Comparison of the High Renown of the Loyal Retainers and Faithful Samurai

(Chûshin gishi kômei kurabe)

Publisher: Kobayashi-ya Matsugorô

1848

In 1702, Lord Asano of Akô was provoked by Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka into drawing his sword in the shogun’s palace, for which he was forced to take his own life, and his estate was confiscated. Forty-seven of Lord Asano’s retainers, who were now rônin (samurai without masters), planned and carried out a successful attack on Kira’s palace. Kira’s head was cut off with the same dagger Lord Asano used to commit seppuku. (The term ‘hara-kiri’, although more common in English than ‘seppuku’, is considered in Japan to be a vulgar and disrespectful description of an honorable act.). The 46 surviving rônin were forced to take their own lives. These events were made into the play, ‘Kanadehon Chûshingura’. This series of prints portrays some of the 47 rônin. The total number of prints in this series is unknown. The twenty-four prints that Robinson had seen are listed below in addition to S57.16, which he had not seen. The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Scene: Ôboshi Rikiya Yoshikane strikes a naginata out of the hands of Takano Uheinosuke Moroyasu Robinson: S57.2 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Yazama Kihei Mitsunobu making a sword stroke at a fleeing adversary by a shôji screen on which the shadow of another fleeing figure is seen Robinson: S57.6 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Senzaki Yagorô Noriyasu cutting at the fallen Shimmi Yashichirô who blocks his downward sword stroke Robinson: S57.7
	Scene: Horiye Yasubei Taketsune and Kobayashi Heihachi Kaneyoshi fighting by a fallen screen Robinson: S57.8
	Scene: Fuwa Katsuyemon Masatane and Toriye Riyemon fighting eyeball to eyeball with crossed swords Robinson: S57.9
	Scene: Kataoka Dengoyemon Takafusa with sword in hand running past a cowering woman Robinson: S57.10
	Scene: Takebayashi Sadashichi Takashige in combat with Kwandayû Terukage Robinson: S57.11
	Scene: Okajima Yasôyemon Tsuneki in combat with Saitô Jurobei Robinson: S57.13
	Scene: Sakagaki Shigetaka in combat with Mori Hanyemon Robinson: S57.14
	Scene: Aihara Yesuke Munefusa pulling Kempachi down from his hiding place Robinson: S57.15 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Yukugawa Sampei Munenori with a sword in combat with a foe armed with a pole arm Robinson: S57.16 (listed but not described)
	Scene: Rear view of Hayami Tôzayemon Mitsutaka fighting a foe who is stumbling over two potted plants Robinson: S57.17 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Chiba Saburohei Kanamaru in combat with Magohachi who waits for him behind an archway Robinson: S57.21 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Chiba Saburohei Mitsutada with a drawn sword discovers Nakamatsu Kurobei hiding under a blanket Robinson: S57.22
	Scene: Kadono Jûheiji Tsugufusa in combat with Iwata Yagoyemon Robinson: S57.22 bis. Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Ôboshi Seizayemon Nobukiyo in combat with Sutô Senyemon Robinson: S57.28 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Katsuta Shinzayemon Taketaka seizing an unnamed opponent by his kimono and holding a sword to his throat Robinson: S57.29
	Scene: Ôtaka Dengo Tadao fending off bundles of charcoal that are being thrown at him Robinson: S57.30 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Kiura Okayemon Okiyuki in combat with Horibuchi Kanzayemon Robinson: S57.34 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Rear view of Hayano Wasuke Tsunenari using a pole arm against Hamano Tadanoshin who is armed with a sword Robinson: S57.37 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Tokuda Tadayemon Yukitaka attacking Miya-ishi Shozayemon who is hiding under a snow-covered ledge Robinson: S57.38 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Yatô Yomoshichi Norikane making a two-handed sword stroke at Masuhara Sachû who blocks it with his own sword Robinson: S57.41
	Scene: Yata Goroyemon Suketake pulls Sansuke out from a kitchen range (kamado) in which he had been hiding Robinson: S57.42
	Scene: Uramatsu Handayû Takanao falling backwards into a frozen pond is attacked by Koshio Denshirô with a pole arm Robinson: S57.43 Image courtesy of Richard Norcross
	Scene: Shikamatsu Kanroku Yukishige holding a lantern discovers the maid Sumiji Robinson: S57.44
The title cartouche for this series is in the shape of a hand-guard on a Japanese sword called a tsuba. A tsuba served to keep the user’s hand from sliding onto the blade, to counterbalance the weight of the blade and to protect the hand from an opponent’s blade. Tsuba were often beautifully decorated, and three exceptional examples are shown below.

‘Robinson’ refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its unpublished supplement.

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