True Portraits of the Faithful Samurai

(Gishi shinzô, 義士真像)

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. Each print in this series is signed Ikusa Kuniyoshi kinsha (井草 國芳 謹写, faithfully rendered by Igusa Kuniyoshi). The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Samurai: Fifty-five-year-old Hara Gôemon Mototoki (原郷右衛門元辰) crouching with an eager expression Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.1
	Samurai: Thirty-three-year-old Tomimori Sukeemon Masakata (富守助右衛門正固) seated with a spear Publisher: Robinson: S80.2
	Samurai: Thirty-one-year-old Takebayashi Sadashichi Takashige (武林定七隆重) representing the historical Takebayashi Tadashichi Takashige, seated with a spear Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.3
	Samurai: Thirty-six-year-old Kataoka Dengoemon Takafusa (片岡傳五右衛門高房) feeling the edge of his sword Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.4
	Samurai: Thirty-six-year-old Mimura Jiroemon Kanetsune (三村路良左衛門包常) seated with a spear Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.5
	Samurai: Seventy-one-year-old Oribe Yahei Kanamaru (織部矢兵衛金丸), the historical Horibe Yahei Kanamaru, seated holding his helmet Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.6
	Samurai: Twenty-three-year-old Katsuta Shinemon Taketaka (勝田真右衛門武尭) standing with drawn sword Publisher: Robinson: S80.7 I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Samurai: Twenty-eight-year-old Yada Gorozaemon Suketake (矢田呉郎右衛門助武) standing with his hand on his sword Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.8
	Samurai: Twenty-seven-year-old Onodera Mitsuemon Hidetomi (小埜寺光右衛門秀富) seated holding a sheathed sword Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.9
	Samurai: Twenty-six-year-old Okajima Yasuemon Tsunetatsu (岡嶋安右衛門常樹) representing the historical Okajima Yasoemon Tsuneshige, standing with a drawn sword Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.10
	Samurai: Seventeen-year-old Yatô Yomoshichi Norikane (矢頭与茂七教兼), the historical Kato Yomoshichi Norikane, standing with a spear Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.11
	Samurai: Thirty-seven-year-old Kanzaki Yagorô Noriyasu (千崎矢五郎則休), the historical Senzaki Yagoro Noriyasu, standing with a bow Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.12
	Samurai: Thirty-one-year-old Ôtaka Gengo Tadao (大鷹源吾忠雄) seated holding a writing brush and notebook Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.13
	Samurai: Fifteen-year-old Ôboshi Chikara Yoshikane (大星主税良金) seated on a stool and holding a spear Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.14
	Samurai: A three-quarter back view of thirty-three year old Fuwa Katsuemon Masatane (不破勝右衛門正種) standing Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.15
	Samurai: Sixty-two-year-old Yoshida Chûzaemon Kanesuke (吉多忠左衛門兼亮) seated with a determined expression Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.16
	Samurai: A back view of twenty-four year old Isogaya Jurozaemon Masahisa (磯合重郎右衛門正久) seated with his face in profile Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.17
	Samurai: Thirty-three-year-old Orinabe Yasubei Taketsune (堀邉安兵衛武庸) standing with a drawn sword and shading his eyes Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.18
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state of the above design without any green.
	Samurai: Thirty-four year old Ôishi Seizaemon Nobukiyo (大石清左衛門信清) standing with a spear and his hand on his the hilt of his sword Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.19
	Samurai: A back view of twenty-four year old Okuta Sadaemon Yukitaka (奥多貞右衛門行高) standing with his face in profile Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: S80.20
	Samurai: Fifty year old Chiba Saburohei Mitsutada (千馬三郎兵衛光忠) seated holding his bow Publisher: Mita-ya Kihachi Robinson: S80.21
No image available	Samurai: Twenty-five-year-old Hazama Jujirô Mitsuoki (間十次郎光興) 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 privately published supplement.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE