Mirror of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Retainers,
Individually, Part I
(Seichû gishin meimei kagami,
誠忠義臣名々鏡)
1857
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
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Scene: Ôboshi Yuranosuke Yoshio
beating a drum in the snow by a body of water Hiragana: ぃ(i) No. 1 Robinson: S90.1 |
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Scene: Ôboshi Rikiya Yoshikane (大星力弥良金) with a mallet attacking a foe hiding under a koto (stringed
musical instrument) Hiragana: ろ (ro) No. 2 Robinson: S90.2 |
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Scene: Yatô Yomoshichi Norikane (矢頭与茂七教兼) delivering a sword stroke to the head of a foe Hiragana: み (mi) No. 41 Robinson: S90.3 |
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Scene: Fuwa Katsuyemon Masatane in ordinary clothes chastising two palanquin (kago) bearers Hiragana: る(ru) No. 11 Robinson: S90.4 |
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Scene: Shikamatsu Hanroku Yukishige tasting fruit respectfully offered Hiragana: せ (se) No. 46 Robinson: S90.5 |
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Scene:
Yoshida Kawayemon Kanesada
running along the water’s edge in a fur helmet and carrying a spear Hiragana: none Robinson:
S90.6 |
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Scene: Sakagaki Genzô Masakata holding his spear and taking a drink in Moronao’s mansion Hiragana: ゐ (wi or i)
No. 25 Robinson:
S90.7 |
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Scene:
Yodogawa Kanpei Munenori
(淀川勘平) running past a stone lantern in pursuit of a
fleeing foe Hiragana: な (na) No. 21 Robinson: S90.8 |
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Scene:
Onodera Jûnai Hidekazu
tying his girdle in the snow with his sword and armor on the ground behind
him Hiragana: と (to) No. 7 Robinson:
S90.9 |
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Scene: Isoai Juroyemon Masahisa and a foe chasing each other around a large
standing screen Hiragana: none Robinson:
S90.10 |
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Scene:
Okano Kinemon Kanehide (岡野金右衛門包秀) wringing out his cloths in the snow while holding
his sword between his teeth Hiragana: れ (re) No. 42 Robinson: S90.11 |
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Scene: Senzaki Yagorô Noriyasu using his sword to fend off a bundle of wood that
had been thrown at him with a wounded foe behind him Hiragana: き (ki) No. 38 Robinson: S90.12 |
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Scene: Yazama Jûjirô Moto-oki fighting with crossed swords by a sand pit with
an overturned brazier Hiragana: none Robinson:
S90.13 (listed as not seen) |
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Scene: Ôtaka Dengo Tadao
(大高傳吾忠雄) striking the gate of Moronao’s
mansion with a huge mallet Hiragana: か (ka)
No. 14 Robinson: S90.14 |
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Scene: Kataoka Dengoemon Takafusa (片岡傳五右衛門高房) on top of a foe whom he is about to tie-up Hiragana: ほ (ho) No. 5 Robinson:
S90.15 (listed as not seen) |
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Scene:
Nakamura Kansuke Maratoki
cutting the strings of several bows with his sword Hiragana: ぁ (a) No. 36 Robinson: S90.16 |
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Scene:
Toshima Yasôemon Tsuneki
(外島弥惣右衛門常樹), having tie two ruffians to a tree, holds a third
on the ground Hiragana: く (ku) No. 28 Robinson: S90.17 |
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Scene: Teraoka Heiemon Nobuyuki (寺岡平右衛門信行) carrying two buckets of water through the snow Hiragana: す (su) No. 47 Robinson: S90.18 |
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Scene: Uramatsu Handayû Takanao testing a sword blade without its handle on a
doorpost Hiragana: め (me) No. 40 Robinson: S90.19 |
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This is an alternate state
of the above print. In addition to
slightly different colors, the hiragana
within a diamond is missing from the left lower corner. |
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Scene: Tokuda Tadaemon Yukitaka (得田只右衛門行高) opening a sliding door to disclose two of Moronao’s terrified retainers Hiragana: none Robinson:
S90.20 |
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Scene: Horibe Yahei Kanamaru beheading a foe with the severed head flying
through the air Hiragana: ち (chi) No. 8 Robinson: S90.21 |
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Scene:
Kimura Okuyemon Sadayuki
using his sword to fend of a thrown spear and various other objects Hiragana: を (wo) No. 12 Robinson: S90.22 |
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Scene: Kazuta Shinemon Taketaka (数田新右衛門武尭) using a dipper to poor water on a bed of hot ashes Hiragana: Robinson:
S90.23 |
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Scene: Takebayashi Sadashichi Takashige making a sword stroke that disarmed a foe whose
right leg is all that is shown Hiragana: Robinson:
S90.24 |
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Scene: Karahashi Zensuke Takeyuki drinking sake
from a tub Hiragana: Robinson:
S90.25 |
“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.
