Mirror of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Retainers,
Individually,
Part I
(Seichû gishin meimei kagami,
誠忠義臣名々鏡)
1857
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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 (大星由良之助良雄) 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 (不破勝右衛門正種) in ordinary
clothes chastising two palanquin (kago) bearers Hiragana: る (ru) No. 11 Robinson: S90.4 |
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Scene: Shikamatsu Hanroku Yukishige (鹿松半六行重) tasting fruit
respectfully offered Hiragana: せ (se) No. 46 Robinson: S90.5 |
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Scene: Yoshida Kawayemon Kanesada (吉田河右衛門兼貞) running along
the water’s edge in a fur helmet and carrying a spear Hiragana: け (ke) No. 31 Robinson: S90.6 |
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Scene: Sakagaki Genzô Masakata (板垣伝蔵正賢) 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 (小野寺十内秀和) 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 (磯合重路郎右衛門正久) and a foe
chasing each other around a large standing screen Hiragana: も (mo)
No. 45 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. 17 Robinson: S90.11 |
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Scene: Senzaki Yagorô Noriyasu (千崎彌五郎則安) 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 (矢間重太郎光興) fighting with
crossed swords by a sand pit with an overturned brazier Hiragana: ひ (hi) No. 44 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 (中村勘助正辰) 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 (浦松半太夫髙直) 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 design. 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: し (shi) No. 42 Robinson: S90.20 |
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Scene: Horibe Yahei Kanamaru (堀部矢兵衛 金丸) 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 (木村奥右衛門貞行) using his
sword to fend off 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: ろ (ro) No. 2 Robinson: S90.23 |
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Scene: Takebayashi Sadashichi Takashige (竹林貞七隆重) making a
sword stroke that disarmed a foe whose right leg is all that is shown Hiragana: ゑ (we or ye) No.
43 Robinson: S90.24 |
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Scene: Karahashi Zensuke Takeyuki (唐橋全助武幸) drinking sake from a tub Hiragana: こ (ko) No. 33 Robinson: S90.25 |
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“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.
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