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Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Japanese, 1839-1892
A scene from Kanadehon Chushingura (Storehouse of
the
Loyalties), ca. 1870
With artist's seal
Nishiki-e (color woodblock print)
Oban format
Lent by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Guy Wilson
The true story of the revenge of the forty-seven ronin
(leaderless samurai) upon the wicked lord who drove their master
to suicide is one of the emblematic epics in Japanese
culture-its combination of resistance and loyalty manifested in
Kabuki and in movies. In this print, the powerfully quirky
Yoshitoshi parodies the severe heroism of the tale by focusing
on the activities of an immature follower of the noble hero.
Kampei has been neglectfully romancing his intended O Karu while
his master has been insulted and arrested. O Karu restrains him
from suicide. He beats off an attack by the servants of the evil
lord, with O Karu offering guidance and wise moral support. The
spiritual identity of sword and cherry blossom (both are
incarnations of purity) is clear in this print, since Kampei
defeats the attacking servants with blossom rather than blade.
In Kabuki, a samurai often used fragile objects to fight off
inferiors. Both O Karu and Kampei later make noble
self-sacrifices.
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