Miscellaneous Chûshingura prints

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.

	Series: The Storytellers’ Chûshingura Robinson: Not listed Title: Act 8 of the Chûshingura with a verse by storyteller Magosaburô (馬士三郎) Description: Format: Date: c. 1831-1832 Publisher: No seal
	Series: The Storytellers’ Chûshingura Robinson: Not listed Title: Act 9 of the Chûshingura with a verse by storyteller Sanshôtei Karaku (三笑亭可楽) Description: Format: Date: c. 1831-1832 Publisher: No seal
	Robinson: Not listed Title: Select Chûshingura, Act Two (Mitate Chûshingura Nidanme, 見立忠臣蔵二段目) Description: Momonoi Wakasanosuke (桃乃井若狭之助) and Kakogawa Honzo (加古川本蔵) Format: About 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as Ôban Date: c. 1835 Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Robinson: Not listed Title: Select Chûshingura, Act Six (Mitate Chûshingura Rokudanme, 見立忠臣蔵六段目) Description: Hayano Kanpei’s wife (nyôbô) Okaru (早勘平女房おかる) and the pimp Ichimonjiya Saibei (一文字屋才兵衛) Format: About 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as Ôban Date: c. 1835 Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	This is act one of the Chûshingura performed by old men. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this drawing for a print that was probably never published.
	Series: Silly Chronicles of the Golden Treasury (Bakatehon hyô kingura, ばかてほんひやうきんぐら) Robinson: Not listed Titles: Ryugoku Bridge scenes of the Chûshingura and Parodies of the Night Attack Description: Ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters) Format: About 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as Ôban Date: c. 1839 Publisher: I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Title: Chûshingura, Act 6, (Kanpei’s) wife Okaru (Chûshingura, roku, nyôbô Okaru, 忠臣蔵 六 女房 おかる) Description: Hayano Kanpei’s wife (nyôbô) Okaru Format: About 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as Ôban Date: 1843 (censor Tanaka Heishirô) Publisher: No seal NOTE: This print was published during the “Tenpô reforms”, when actor prints were banned. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
Series: Untitled ôban series Robinson: Not listed Date: Publisher: Actor: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Rikiya (son of Oboshi Yuranosuke) meeting Konami (daughter of Kakogawa Honzô) in Yoichibei’s home NOTE: This print is a simplified reprint of Act 2 from the 1835 Kanadehon Chûshingura series with a dogtooth and tomoe (comma-like heraldic device) border added. The screen is signed by Kuniyoshi’s student Yoshimune (芳宗).
Series: The print is inscribed “ro” (ろ) which indicates number two in hiragana order Date: Publisher: Actor: Roles: Ôboshi Rikiya (大星力弥, right), Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助, standing center) and an unidentified actor as Shikamatsu Kanroku Yukishige (far left)

“Robinson” refers to listing of the series in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).

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