KUNIYOSHI CHUSHINGURA PRINTS
The following text is taken from that originally sent out by Artmail International Ltd suitably edited where necessary.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) whose real name was Igusa Magosaburo, also painted under the name of Ichiyusai. At the age of 12 he was apprenticed to Toyokuni of the Utagawa school and in 1814 obtained his degree.
Our prints have been reproduced using eight colour masters and the most advanced litho printing techniques. Faults that occur in the originals have been retained.
Each text relates to the part played by the warrior – not necessarily the illustrated action – in the attack on Kira, which took place on 14th December 1702. In avenging the death of Lord Asano they achieved folk immortality and their exploits – retold here from illustrations of the play Chushingura (A Treasury of Loyal Hearts) – became legend.
At the foot of each translation are the words – ‘Written by request on his tomb’ – it was customary to inscribe plaques of ivory or bone, the exploits of the dead warrior; almost invariably they were signed with pseudonyms, such was their modesty.
Translator’s note: - The script and grammar have been kept loose and popular in translation. There are a number of ambiguities of various kinds but what is presented is the most acceptable version in each case.
Translated by TEK INTERNATIONAL – LONDON
Produced by: - ARTMAIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, Box
874,London W8 6EY.
TOKUDA
SADAEMON YUKITAKA
TOKUDA
SADAEMON YUKITAKA
Tokuda Yukitaka was expert in swimming. When after killing
Moranao the retainers withdrew to the Ryoboku Bridge, and were told by an
informer that many were coming after them in pursuit, Kataoka Dengoemon, Sasaki
Yagoro and Tokuda Sadaemon hurriedly took Moronao’s head to Sengakuji on a
small boat that had been got ready. The other loyal retainers, numbering more
than forty, determined to die together rather than give ground, gathered in
front of the gate of the Nekooin Temple, uncertain of their next move; but in
view of the confusion their arrival caused in the Temple, and because there was
no sign of any further pursuit, they then made their way in a quiet and orderly
column towards Tsukiji, aiming for Sengakuji in Shima.
NAKAMURA
KANSUKE TADATOKI
NAKAMURA
KANSUKE TADATOKI
Kansuke Tadatoki was an austere, frugal retainer of the
Akodaimyoate, a placid and gentle man. He was an expert in the martial arts,
with no taste for the ostentatious or extravagant. On the death of his lord he
took his wife and family with him. At the time of his withdrawal from Harima his
eldest son, Kanjiro, was five, and his second son Chuzaburo, two. He lay low in
Kyoto with Oboshi, joining the league for avenging his lord. With money he had
saved, he sent his wife back to her home, asking them to care for her there, and
gave out that he was going up to the Kanto to pay his respects to his lord and
to see the sights. Having journeyed to the east (i.e. Edo), he went to Honjo and
became a disciple of the haiku poet Kitaku, writing haiku himself under the name
Hyoshu. Otakas Shiyo, Senzaki Chikuhei and Tomimori Shunpo constantly visited
Kikaku and Sentoku, using these visits as a way of gathering information about
the house of the enemy. On the night of the attack Kansuke fought valiantly;
providence rewarded him for the long hardships that he had suffered and their
lord was avenged. As they left the gate, each one with his desire achieved, the
gatekeeper came out with a torch. Looking back, Tadatoki saw it. “Careful with
that light” he said, and ordered him to put it out. When the gate keeper
murmured, “Surely you have nothing against the torch!” anger flared in
Tadatoki’s countenance, and cursing the man for a low wretch he drove his
spear sideways through his ribs with a single thrust. The fellow gave one scream
and died. The company went forward – so it was said afterwards – with a
great burst of laughter.
Written by request on his tomb.
ORIBE
YAHEI KANAMARU
ORIBE
YAHEI KANAMARU
Oribe Yahei Kanamaru was seventy-eight in the year of the
longed-for vengeance was achieved, but he was more vigorous than many in their
prime. He had long been an expert in the martial arts. He was a master of
strategy of the Yamamoto School and a brave and mighty warrior. Praising
Yasubei’s skill at the attack on Takadanobaba, he took him as a husband for
his beloved daughter – such was his constant delight in valour. Not long
before the night of the attack, he had been pleased to hear how the Isshi
brothers had killed Akabori Mizuemon, their father’s enemy, at the Kameyama in
Ise province. He was eager to praise too all and sundry what they had done, and
to tell of Yasubei’s exploit, when what should happen but the death of his own
lord….full of bitter rancour, he joined Oboshi’s league, waiting earnestly
for the day of revenge. He had always been a skilful spearsman, and on the night
of the attack the old man’s fearsome shouts, astounded all who heard them. His
son-in-law Yasubei, while fighting gallantly himself, gave Yahei every
assistance and together, father and son-in-law slew many of the enemy. When,
having achieved vengeance, they had to submit to the punishment for the crime,
Yahei’s sixteen year old daughter donned a nun’s grey in morning for her
father and husband, took the name Myokai, and lived the other side of Rokuamida
in Kamedo. Later she made herself a hermitage at Sengakuji, where she is said to
have died at the age of ninety-three. There is a poem on Yahei’s spear-pennon:
Though
I thought
I
had lived too long
Without
merit,
The
joy of it now
This
moment of old age!
Written by request on his tomb.
MASE
CHUDAIFU MASAAKI
Masaaki
changed his name to Mitsuhashi Jotei, and practised as a doctor in a rented
house in Koshi-machi. His son
Magokuro changed his name to Koichiro. Pretending to have come from the western
provinces to solicit contributions from their present lord for the rebuilding of
the shrine, he was living with three or four (sc other?) retainers in Jotei’s
house. At the attack on the fourteenth of December, in spite of his sixty-two
years, he fought as valiantly as any younger man, cutting his way in from the
porch with the second band, shouting fearsomely as he went. The enemy warrior
Mori Banzaemon engaged him, and the two engaged in fierce combat, when Hara
Mimura, seeing what was going on, and noting how dangerous a swordsman Mori was,
attacked him from the side, thinking to rescue the aged Mase; but Chudaifu,
undaunted and unwearyingly, shouted “On, on, further into the house”! and
continued to carry all before him like a raging tiger, sending the sparks flying
from his sword hilt. Aiming unerringly, he struck at Mori’s forehead; in his
well trained hands his Kunitoshi sword split his opponents head in two. Spouting
blood, Mori died instantly, without even a cry. One naming himself as Komori
Genji faced him next, blocking the doorway right in front of him so that he
could not pass. Infuriated, Chudaifu crossed swords with Komori, then cut at him
with high strokes and with low. Noted fighter though he was, Komori could not
hold out against him, and tried to withdraw backwards, whereupon Chudaifu struck
at him from the side. When Komori failed to avoid the blow, Chudaifu cut out the
flesh from below the ribs on his right side, right up, and tossed it way. From
this one has a vivid sense of the prowess of this amazing old man.
Written by request on his tomb.
TOKUDA
MAGODAIFU SHIGEMORI
TOKUDA MAGODAIFU SHIGEMORI
Shigemori was an expert in the Shinto style of
fencing. With his son Tadaemon, thinking to kill Moronao, the enemy of
his dead lord, he joined the league of loyal retainers, and entered the house
under the orders of Oboshi. In spite of his more than fifty years he gave as
good an account of himself as those in the prime of life. Mistaking Moronao’s
son Moroyasu, for his enemy, he was laying in wait to strike him down when the
signal whistle blew, and he found on running to the place, that Yazama and
Takebayashi and the others with them had already killed the enemy. Thus he lost
the chance to kill Moroyasu, but the loyal retainers, overjoyed, raised a cry of
triumph. Then quietly they left the mansion, with Magodaifu and Yahei bringing
up the rear.
Written by request on his tomb.
HAYANO
WASUKE TSUNENARI
HAYANO
WASUKE TSUNENARI
Hayano Tsunenari was a master of archery, never missing a
single shot in a hundred.. On the night of the avenging attack, Oboshi, moved by
Kampei’s loyal death, and bearing in mind that he (sc Tsunenari) had the same
name (sc as Kanpei), sent Tsunenari into the house of the enemy with the words
‘Hayano, loyal to the death’ inscribed on his spear pennon. Running in
through the small back gate, Tsunenari first ran the gatekeeper through. This
was thought (sc by the enemy) to be the work of Kanpei. As he crawled along the
roof and shot his arrows in quick succession at every door of the long one
storey building, the men inside thought that the house must be on fire, and
rushed out frantically, only to be shot at by arrows from above; whereupon they
retreated into the house again in confusion, no one going out to face him. Then
he made his way in, aiming for Moronao’s room, and bravely cutting down
everyone that opposed him. When finally he heard the signal whistle he and the
others gathered in the servant’s room, and found the severed head of the
enemy.
On a puff of wind
My life departs –
Kite
climbing!
Though the snow fall
At Kotesashihara
No letter
Shall I send
To Yamato
Written
by request on his tomb
Copyright ©2004 Clive Sinclaire. All rights
reserved.