Artist: Utagawa Kunisada
Title: The Treasury of Loyal Retainers Act 5
Date: c. 1848 - 1845
Details: More information...
Source:
Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description:
Chüshingura was a popular resource for Kabuki plays because of its themes of honor, loyalty and revenge. This famous tale of forty-seven rönin (masterless samurai) was based on a true historical incident. In 1701, the leader of a group of forty-seven samurai was forced to commit seppuku (suicide) for assaulting Kira, a high court official who insulted him. The rönin avenged their leader in 1702 by killing Kira and then committing suicide. In this depiction of a scene in Act 5 of Chüshingura, the robber Sadakurö approaches the old peasant Yoichibei as he prepares to kill him. (from Daring Moves Exhibition. 8/1/06-)
