True Portraits of the Faithful Samurai

(Gishi shinzô)

Publishers: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei, or Mikawa-ya Kihei

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 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 prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Samurai: Thirty-six year old Kataoka Dengoyemon Takafusa feeling the edge of his sword Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.4
	Samurai: Thirty-seven year old Kanzaki Yagorô Noriyasu standing with a bow Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.12
	Samurai: Thirty-one year old Ôtaka Gengo Tadao seated holding a writing brush and notebook Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.13
	Samurai: Fifteen year old Ôboshi Chikara Yoshikane seated on a stool and holding a spear Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.14
	Samurai: A three-quarter back view of thirty-three year old Fuwa Katsuyemon Masatane standing Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.15
	Samurai: Sixty-two year old Yoshida Chûzayemon Kanesuke seated with a determined expression Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.16
	Samurai: Thirty-four year old Ôishi Seizayemon Nobukiyo standing with a spear and his hand on his the hilt of his sword Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.19

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listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its unpublished supplement.

The other known prints in this series are listed below.

Samurai: Fifty-five year old Hara Gôyemon Mototoki crouching with an eager expression

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.1

Samurai: Thirty-three year old Tomimori Sukeyemon Masakata seated with a spear

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.2

Samurai: Thirty-one year old Takebayashi Sadashichi Takashige seated with a spear

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.3

Samurai: Thirty-six year old Mimura Jiroyemon Kanetsune seated with a spear

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.5

Samurai: Seventy-one year old Oribe Yahei Kanamaru seated holding his helmet

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.6

Samurai: Twenty-three year old Katsuta Shinyemon Taketaka standing with drawn sword

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.7

Samurai: Twenty-eight year old Yada Gorozayemon Suketake standing with his hand on his sword

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.8

Samurai: Twenty-seven year old Onodera Mitsuyemon Hidetomi seated holding a sheathed sword

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.9

Samurai: Twenty-six year old Okajima Yasuyemon Tsunetatsu standing with a drawn sword

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.10

Samurai: Seventeen year old Yatô Yomoshichi Norikane standing with a spear

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.11

Samurai: A back view of twenty-four year old Isogaya ]urozayemon Masahisa seated with his face in profile

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.17

Samurai: Thirty-three year old Orinabe Yasubei Taketsune standing with a drawn sword and shading his eyes

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.18

Samurai: A back view of twenty-four year old Okuta Sadayemon Yukitaka standing with his face in profile

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.20

Samurai: Fifty year old Chiba Saburohei Mitsutada seated holding his bow

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.21

Samurai: Twenty-five year old Hazama Jujirô Mitsuoki standing with his spear over his shoulder

Publisher:

Robinson: S80.22

‘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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