Kanadehon Chûshingura

(仮名手本 忠臣蔵)

Publisher: Edo-ya Matsugorô

1835

This series shows scenes from the kabuki play Kanadehon Chûshingura. It is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

Act: 1

Scene: Lady Kaoyo bowing towards Moronao (in black) with Enya and Wakasa at his side

Act: 2

Scene: Konami kneeling with Rikiya standing before a screen

Act: 3

Scene: Okaru and a group of ruffians

Act: 4

Scene: Actor Ichikawa Danzô V as Yuranosuke outside the castle holding the dirk with which his lord had performed seppuku

NOTE: The publisher’s and censor’s seals are faintly visible near the left lower corner

Act: 5

Scene: Sadakurô (actor Ichikawa Sumizô III) robbing Yoichibei (actor Matsumoto Taisuke)

Act: 6

Scene: Kampei receiving Yagoro and Goyemon at the door of Yoichibei’s hut

Act: 7

Scene: Yuranosuke being observer playing the fool at the Ichiriki Teahouse in Kyoto in order to allay suspicion that he was plotting revenge

Act: 8

Scene: On the bridal journey, Konami and her mother Tonase are resting under a tree with Mount Fuji in the background

Act: 9

Scene: Tonase and Konami at Yuranosuke’s house with Yuranosuke dressed as a komuso

Act: 10

Scene: The rônin testing Amakawaya Gihei’s loyalty in his shop

NOTE: Gihei has the features of kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizô V

Another state of the above design

Act: 11, Scene 1

Scene: The rônin in the snow surrounding Moronao

Act: 11, Scene 2

Scene: Yuranosuke and the rônin laying Moronao’s severed head on their lord’s tomb

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