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A work made of color woodblock print; oban.

Act 9 (Kyudanme), from the series "The Revenge of the Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)"

c. 1834/39

Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川 広重 Japanese, 1797-1858

Japan

In the open room at Yamashima, Honzo has committed seppuku in the presence of his wife and daughter. This is in atonement for his past support of Kira, which greatly contributed to Asano’s death and reduced his retainers to ronin outcasts. In the snow-covered courtyard, Kuranosuke dons the Buddhist monk disguise, which other artists show Honzo wearing on his arrival at Yamashima. Kuranosuke leaves his weeping wife and son Rikiya kneeling in the snow to go to Sakai to complete the plans for attacking Kira.

Color woodblock print; oban

Arts of Asia