Chushingura

The true story of the forty-seven ronin is probably the best-known story of the valor and ideals of Japan's samurai. In 1701, Lord Asano Nagamori, a brash young daimyo from Ako, was ordered to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) and his clan abolished, thus setting the stage for the bloodiest vendetta in Japan's history known as the forty-seven ronin incident. Asano's offense was drawing his short sword and attacking the shogun's chief of protocol, Kira Yoshinaka, during preparations for an official reception of an imperial envoy from Kyoto. His former retainers concealed their plans for revenge for nearly two years, disguised as merchants, street vendors, and even drunks. When suspicions were finally relaxed, the forty-seven ronin attacked Kira's mansion while he was hosting a tea party. After killing Kira, the ronin took his head to Asano's grave at Sengaku-ji temple. For their actions, the shogun ordered the ronin to commit seppuku. Today, the forty-seven ronin are memorialized in a play called Chushingura which celebrates the theme of their sacrifice in the name of loyalty.

Subject: In the foreground, the police are dispatched to arrest Lord Asano, while in the background, the attack on Kira while in the shogun's castle is depicted. Three komono (non-samurai police assistants) on the left are carrying torimono sandogu the three main arresting tools, the sodegurame (sleeve entangler), the tsukubo (a T-shaped polearm), and the sasumata (a U-shaped polearm). An original Japanese woodblock print, Chushingura, by Yoshitara, printed in 1852. Dimensions: 14 x 10 inches.  Impression: Very Good Condition: Very Good.