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Although various earlier plays had woven elements of
the tale into their narratives, the authors of the
Kanadehon Chûshingura, by successfully relocating the
drama within the belligerent struggles of the Kamakura
period [1192-1333] (which included renaming the
principal agitators) managed to both circumvent the
unrelenting censorship of the portrayal of contemporary
events imposed by the military government, and
facilitate the transition of a scandalous and bloody
vendetta into one of Japan's defining myths.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (c.1797 - April 14, 1861) was one
of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of
woodblock prints and painting. He is associated with the
Utagawa school. The range of Kuniyoshi's preferred
subjects included many genres: landscapes, beautiful
women, Kabuki actors, cats, and mythical animals. He
is known for depictions of the battles of samurai and
legendary heroes. His artwork was affected by Western
influences in landscape painting and caricature.
Condition: Some creases and wear to sheet, particularly
the lower half. Repaired worm hole to the lower right of
sheet.
[27389]
£300
Kabuki
139. Oboshi Seizaemon Nobukiyo
Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (17977-1861)
1847-48
Oban tate-e single sheet [9.5 x 14 inches]
mounted
Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga
Seal: Kiri
Cens: Muramatsu - Yoshimura.
Series: Seichu gishi den: Stories of the true loyalty of
the faithful samurai
Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke
Reference: Weinberg, Kuniyoshi: The Faithful Samurai
(2000), I.32; Robinson, Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints
(1982), list S54.32
One of Kuniyoshi's most lauded series, based on the
Kanadehon Chushingura, popularly known as ‘The
Revenge of the 47 Ronin’. Originally written in the late
1740s for the Bunraku (puppet theatre) by Takeda
Izumo, Namiki Senryû and Miyoshi Shôraku, the
eleven-act Kanadehon Chûshingura (A Kana Primer for
the Treasury of Loyal Retainers) became the most
popular theatrical interpretation of an emotive and
rapidly mythologized historical incident known
variously as the Akô rôshi (The Masterless Samurai of
Akô), the Forty-seven Rônin, (Shijûshichirônin) and the
Genroku akô jiken (The Affair at Akô in the Genroku
Era). The incident in question took place in the 14th
year of Genroku [1701], and involved the revenge of a
group of loyal samurai against the daimyô (lord) who
had malevolently insulted their master and subsequently
caused his death.
140. [Kabuki Actors]
Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Kunichika Toyohara (1835-1900)
c. 1870
Ôban tate-e triptych [Each sheet 14 x 9 1/2 inches]
mounted
Signature: Toyohara Kunichika hitsu
Seal: Toshidama
One of the last of the great ukiyo-e masters, Kunichika
was born Oshima Yasohachi in 1835, in the Kyobashi
district of Edo (modern Tokyo). The area was home to
merchants and artisans and comprised the heart of the
Edo culture. In early childhood he assumed the surname
"Arakawa" from his mother. At age 11, he was
apprenticed to the Yamagata-e, a thread and yarn store
in the Nihonbashi district, but already preferred
sketching to learning the skills of the dry-goods trade.
By 1846, when his elder brother opened a "raised
picture" (oshie-e) shop, Yasohachi began to produce
illustrations for him. He also designed actor portraits for
various notable clients. In 1848, at age 13, he was
accepted as an apprentice into the studio of Kunisada
(Toyokuni III, 1786-1865).