Portraits of the Faithful Samurai of True Loyalty
(Seichû gishi shôzô, 誠忠義士省像)
Publisher: Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorô
1853
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
|
|
Ôboshi Yuranosuke Yoshio (大星由良之助良雄) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) the historical Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshitaka, with a spear over his shoulder Robinson:
S78.1 |
|
|
Yato Yomoshichi Norikane (矢頭與茂七教兼) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像), holding a decorated lantern that illuminates his
face Robinson:
S78.2 Image courtesy of Richard Illing |
|
|
Yoshida Sawaemon
Kanesada (吉田沢右エ門包貞) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) blowing the signal whistle Robinson:
S78.3 Image courtesy of Richard Illing |
|
|
Yokogawa Kanpei Munenori (横川勘平宗則) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) dripping wet, wringing out his clothes Robinson: S78.4 |
|
|
Kanzaki Yagorô Noriyasu Robinson:
S78.5 |
|
|
Nakamura Kansuke Masatatsu (中村勘助正辰) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) warding off a brazier of hot ashes that has been
thrown at him Robinson:
S78.6 The poem translates: Surely there will be teahouses where we can drink amidst plums– on the journey to
the other world. NOTE: The
oval cartouche is the color of hot embers in the first edition, whereas the
cartouches of the other prints in this series are all solid red. |
|
|
A later edition of the
above design. Note the colors of the cartouches
in the right upper corner and the absence of ashes. |
|
|
Muramatsu Sandayu Takanao (邑松三太夫高直) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) drinking from a dipper Robinson:
S78.7 |
|
|
Horibe Yahei Kanamaru
(堀部矢兵衛金丸) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) parrying a spear thrust from an unseen opponent Robinson: S78.8 |
|
|
Tominomori Sukeemon Masakata (富之森祐右エ門正固) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) with drawn sword under a bell, which served as an
intruder alarm Robinson:
S78.9 |
|
|
Ushioda Masanojô Takanori (潮田 政之丞 高教) with bow Robinson: S78.10 |
|
|
Yada Gorozaemon Suketake (箭田五郎佐エ門助武) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) in the snow, making two handed stroke with his
sword Robinson:
S78.11 |
|
|
Sugino Juheiji Tsugifusa (杉野十平治次房) / Seichu gishi shozo (誠忠義士省像) looking through a lifted curtain, his sword drawn Robinson:
S78.12 The poem translates: “Behold our valor!” they cry, as they surrender to the wind– cherry blossoms on the peak. |
|
Preparatory drawing (shita-e) and keyblock
print (kyôgô)
of Onodera Tôemon Hidetome
(小野寺 幸右エ門 秀當), intended for
this series. This design is not listed
in Robinson, and it is very
unlikely that it was ever made into a woodblock print. This is one of several known drawings for
unpublished designs in this series. |
|
“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE
