Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai,

Part III

Description: Yata Gorôemon Suketake (矢多五郎右衛門祐武) running among pieces of a broken shoji and scattered flowers, his sword raised with both hands

Robinson: S54.36

Weinberg: I.36

Description: Tokuda Magodayû Shigemori (徳田孫太夫重盛), the historical Okuda Magodayu Shigemori, making a two-handed sword stroke by a tall screen painted with a bird

Robinson: S54.37

Weinberg: I.37

Description: Enya Hangwan Takasada (塩谷判官高貞), the historical Asano Naganoriin, full court robes, but bareheaded, in a menacing posture Robinson: S54.39 Weinberg: I.39

Description: Kô no Musashi no Kami Moronao (高野武蔵守師直), the historical Kira Yoshinaka, in full court robes, starting back in alarm Robinson: S54.38 Weinberg: I.38

NOTE: The two prints that comprise this diptych are titled Origins of Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai (Seichû gishi den no okori, 誠忠義士傳起原起原), whereas the other prints in this series, and some copies of S54.39, are titled Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai (Seichû gishi den, 誠忠義士傳).

Another state of S54.39 also titled Seichû gishi den no okori (Origins of Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai)

Another state of S54.39 titled Seichû gishi den (Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai)

Description: Yazama Shinroku Mitsukaze (矢間真六光風), on one knee, holding his sword upright with a sashimono bearing his posthumous name, Sekisôtei-shinshi

Robinson: S54.40

Weinberg: I.40

NOTE: A sashimono is a flag attached to the back in order to facilitate recognition in battle.

Description: Mase Magoshirô Masatatsu (間勢孫四郎 正辰), the historical Mase Magokuiro Masatoki, breaking a fire-pot with a long-handled mallet

Robinson: S54.41

Weinberg: I.41

Description: Uramatsu Kihei Hidenao Nyûdô Ryûen (浦松半喜兵衛 秀直入道隆圓), the historical Uramatsu Handayu Takanao, crouching behind a clothes rack with sword in hand

Robinson: S54.42

Weinberg: I.42

Description: Yazama Kihei Mitsunobu (矢間喜兵光延), the historical Hazama Kihei Mitsunobu, with a helmet held out on the butt of his naginata; jar and cups on the ground

Robinson: S54.43

Weinberg: I.43

Description: Mase Chûdayû Masa-aki (間瀬宙太夫正明), the historical Mase Kyudayu Masaaki, full face, aiming an arrow

Robinson: S54.44

Weinberg: I.44

Description: Sumino Chûheiji Tsugifusa (角野重平次次房), the historical Sugino Juheiji Tsugifusa, sword in hand, feeling under the coverlet of a bed

Robinson: S54.45

Weinberg: I.45

Description: Hara Gôemon Mototoki (原郷右衛門元辰), the historical Hara Soemon Mototokion, on one knee raising his sword with a spear in the other hand

Robinson: S54.46

Weinberg: I.46

Description: Hayano Kampei Tsuneyo (早野勘平常世) making a thrust with his spear

Robinson: S54.47

Weinberg: I.47

This state is a ghostly version of the previous print.

Description: Kaida Yadaemon Tomonobu (申斐田弥左衛門友信), the historical Kaiga Yazaemon Tomonobu, sword in hand, shielding himself from flying arrows with a koto in its bag

Robinson: S54.48

Weinberg: I.48

Description: Miura Jiroemon Kanetsune (三浦治郎左衛門包常), the historical Mimura Jirozaemon Kanetsune, sword extended, falling backwards on a basket of charcoal

Robinson: S54.49

Weinberg: I.49

Description: Rear view of Yoshida Chûzaemon Kanesuke (芳田忠左衛門兼亮) seated on a campstool and holding out a closed fan

Robinson: S54.50

Weinberg: I.50

NOTE: The text to the left of the figure and to the right of Kuniyoshi’s signature indicates that the series was begun in August, 1847 and completed on January 20, 1848.

Title: Shikamatsu Kanroku’s Manservant, Jinzaburô (Shikamatsu Kanroku kaboku Jinzaburô, 鹿松諫六家僕 塵三郎)

Description: Jinzaburô offering a basket of cakes from two hampers with a large dog behind

Robinson: S54.51

Weinberg: I.51

NOTE: Instead of a number, this print has the word taibi (大尾), meaning “the end” within a circle.

This series is one of several of Kuniyoshi’s that are similar in appearance, having a single full-length figure on a more-or-less plane background with a descriptive text above. While some of these have the series title in distinctively shaped cartouches, several have the series titles in vertical red cartouches with convex tops and concave bottoms. This latter group of title cartouches is reproduced below.

	Series title in Japanese: Meikô hyaku yû den Series title in English: Stories of 100 Heroes of High Renown Robinson: S31
	Series title in Japanese: Seichû gishi den Series title in English: Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai Robinson: S54, except S54.38 and some copies of S54.39
	Series title in Japanese: Seichû gishi den no okori Series title in English: Origins of Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai Robinson: S54.38 and some copies of S54.39
	Series title in Japanese: Seichû gishi hottan Series title in English: Origins of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai Robinson: S55
	Series title in Japanese: Seichû gishin den Series title in English: Stories of Faithful Hearts and True Loyalty Robinson: S56
	Series title in Japanese: Kôetsu yûshô den Series title in English: Stories of Courageous Generals of the Provinces of Echigo and Kai Robinson: S63

“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.

“Weinberg” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi, The Faithful Samurai by David R. Weinberg (Hotei Publishing, Leiden, The Netherlands, 2000).

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