Ogata Gekkō · Gishi Shijūshichi Zu · 47 Rōnin ·...

Artist: Ogata Gekkō 尾形月耕 (1859–1920) Series: Gishi shijūshichi zu 義士四十七圖 (Pictures of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers) Title: Title: Hazama Kihei Mitsunobu 間喜兵衛光延 Format: Ōban tate-e, approx. 36 × 24 cm Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper Date: Meiji period, 1896–1902 (to be confirmed from the margin colophon) Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi 松木平吉 (margin colophon) Signature: 月耕 (Gekkō), with the artist's seal CONDITION Very good colors and strong impression. The paper has minor Soiling/toning and an album backing. Please check the images! About the print Hazama Kihei was one of the oldest members of the league. He was a horse guard on 100 koku, and at 69 he was second in age only to Horibe Yahei. What sets him apart is that he did not join alone: his two sons, Hazama Jūjirō Mitsuoki and Hazama Shinroku Mitsukaze, also took part. Father and both sons are each counted among the forty-seven, which makes the Hazama family one of the most remarkable cases of shared loyalty in the whole story. During the raid on Kira's mansion in 1702, his elder son Jūjirō is credited with striking the first blow against Kira when he was found hiding in an outbuilding. After the surrender, father and sons were held separately at the residences of different daimyō. All three died by seppuku in 1703 and are buried at Sengakuji alongside their lord. In 1702, forty-seven former retainers of Lord Asano of Akō took revenge on Kira Yoshinaka, whose insult had led to their master's forced suicide. They then surrendered and were sentenced to ritual suicide. The story, known as Chūshingura, became Japan's national legend of loyalty. Gekkō's Gishi shijūshichi zu gives one sheet to each of the forty-seven men, with a label stating his rank, stipend and age at death. The set was completed and reissued in 1902 for the 200th anniversary of the vendetta.

Estimate:£125.57

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