From the 47 Ronin
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
- Image courtesy of
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
Description
This print depicts a scene from the Chûshingura narrative — the vendetta of the forty-seven loyal retainers of Asano Naganori against Kira Yoshinaka — one of the most frequently illustrated subjects in the Japanese woodblock print tradition. Kyosai's treatment of the story drew on both his Utagawa training in warrior print (musha-e) composition and his study of historical painting. The numbered suffix suggests this is one print within a serialized multi-sheet composition or album sequence. The scene likely depicts a moment of decisive action — a night assault on Kira's compound, a confrontation between samurai, or the presentation of Kira's head — rendered with the dynamic figural energy and strong contour line characteristic of Kyosai's warrior subjects.
More Prints by Kawanabe Kyosai
from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)
Woodblock print
Old Picture of the Rashômon Gate (Rashômon no ko zu), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho tsuzuki
Woodblock print
Tsukishimadera Temple in Hyôgo (Hyôgo Tsukishimadera), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi
Woodblock print
from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)
Woodblock print
Frequently Asked Questions
From the 47 Ronin was created by Kawanabe Kyosai (河鍋暁斎).