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Act 11: The Night Attack (Juichidanme, youchi no zu), from the series "Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Japanese Color woodblock print; oban, c. 1831/32

Act 11: The Night Attack (Juichidanme, youchi no zu), from the series "Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)"

by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Ukiyo-e
Night Scenes
Date:
c. 1831/32
Medium:
Color woodblock print; oban
Format:
Oban

Description

Act Eleven of the Chushingura (Treasury of Loyal Retainers) is the climactic night attack scene, in which the forty-seven ronin storm Kira's mansion to avenge their lord. This oban from c. 1831-32 depicts the famous yoichi (night attack) with torches blazing, snow underfoot, and samurai figures pressing through the darkness in disciplined formation. Kuniyoshi's nocturnal battle scenes achieved a compositional density few contemporaries matched, layering black, grey, and white to convey the organized chaos of the assault.

More Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Woman as the Hero Taisō in Palanquin Holding a Pipe by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Woman as the Hero Taisō in Palanquin Holding a Pipe

c. 1830

Woodblock print (surimono), ink and color on paper

Yan Qing (Roshi Ensei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Yan Qing (Roshi Ensei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

Poem by Abe no Nakamaro, from an untitled series of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Poem by Abe no Nakamaro, from an untitled series of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets

Hu Sanniang (Ko Sanjo Ichijosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Hu Sanniang (Ko Sanjo Ichijosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

More Night Scenes Prints

E

Evening in East Africa

Woodblock print

Evening Shower at Teradomari (Teradomari no yau), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Evening Shower at Teradomari (Teradomari no yau), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Teradomari no yau

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"

1947

Color woodblock print; oban

Evening Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo (Sapporo Nakanoshima no yuzuki), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)" by Kawase Hasui

Evening Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo (Sapporo Nakanoshima no yuzuki), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)"

March 1933

Color woodblock print; oban

Frequently Asked Questions

Act 11: The Night Attack (Juichidanme, youchi no zu), from the series "Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)" was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) in c. 1831/32.

Yes — Act 11: The Night Attack (Juichidanme, youchi no zu), from the series "Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)" is part of the Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura) series by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Act 11: The Night Attack (Juichidanme, youchi no zu), from the series "Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)" depicts night scenes.