print
- Museum number
- 1906,1220,0.762
- Title
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Object: Ku-danme 九段目 (Act IX)
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Series: Chushingura 忠臣蔵 (The Loyal Retainers)
- Description
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Colour woodblock print. Scene from Act IX of Chushingura, in the snow-covered garden of Oboshi Yuranosuke's retreat in Yamashina, with Yuranosuke wearing guise of itinerant priest (left), his wife Oishi crouching behind him, their son Rikiya behind her, and within the house Konami (red robe, Rikiya's fiancee) bowing toward her dying father Kakogawa Honzo (far right), between them weeping Tonase (Konami's step-mother and Honzo's wife).
- Production date
- 1830s (mid)
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Enya Hangan's chief retainer Oboshi Yuranosuke has been in retreat at Yamashina, pretending not to be interested in a vendetta. Tonase arrives with her step-daughter Konami, who is promised to Yuranosuke's son Rikiya. Yuranosuke's wife Oishi refuses to welcome the two women, apparently because Tonase's husband Kakogawa Honzo had intervened in a dispute between Hangan and Ko no Moronao, preventing Hangan from killing Moronao in revenge for a series of insults, leading to Hangan's suicide without honour, and forcing his retainers to exact vengeance on his behalf (Acts I-IV). Oishi agrees to the marriage, on condition that the dowry be Honzo's head. Honzo arrives disguised as an itinerant Buddhist priest (komuso). Oishi attacks him with a spear, then Rikiya takes hold of the spear and stabs him. Honzo had wanted Rikiya to kill him to atone for his improper intervention. Yuranosuke appears. Honzo gives him a map of Moronao's mansion so the Loyal Retainers can carry out their vendetta. Yuranosuke dresses in the priest robes and without looking back departs on his mission to fulfill the vendetta.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Chushingura
- Acquisition date
- 1906
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1906,1220,0.762
