Seichu gishi den
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- British Museum
Description
"Seichu gishi den" (Loyal Retainer Biographies) was a popular narrative tradition documenting the forty-seven ronin and their vendetta against Kira Yoshinaka in 1703. Kuniyoshi contributed extensively to the Chushingura genre, producing individual portraits of each loyal retainer across multiple series. This print, likely a portrait from such a series, would show the named retainer in samurai dress with attributes identifying his specific role in the famous night attack on Kira's mansion.
More Prints 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)"
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)"
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Frequently Asked Questions
Seichu gishi den was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳).
Seichu gishi den depicts figures, warriors, and portraits.