Chapter XII, Presentation of Moronao's Head, from the play Chushingura (5765903564)

Accession Number: 2009.119

Display Artist: Kunisada Utagawa

Display Title: "Chapter XII: Presentation of Moronao's Head, from the play ""Chushingura"""

Series Title: Biographies of Loyal and Faithful Righteous Retainers

Suite Name: Chuyu gishin den

Creation Date: 1847-1850 (reprinted after ca. 1870)

Medium: Woodblock

Height: 9 1/8 in.

Width: 13 in.

Display Dimensions: 9 1/8 in. x 13 in. (23.18 cm x 33.02 cm)

Publisher: Izumiya Ichibei

Credit Line: "Gift of Captain George B. Powell, Jr., JAGC, USN"

Label Copy: "The retainers of Lord Enya have successfully defended their masters honor by completing the vendetta as requested by Enya himself. This print shows the conclusion of their task as the forty-seven r?nin present the head of Moranao at the grave of their samurai lord. According to their code of conduct, the forty-seven samurai are to be punished for their murder, however justified, of Moranao. They choose to die with honor and commit seppuku, which is ritual suicide by stabbing through the bowels. "

Collection: http://www.sdmart.org/art/our-collection/asian-art" The San Diego Museum of Art</a>

chuyu gishin den stories of the loyal retainers by utagawa kunisada izumiya ichibei japanese woodblock prints in the san diego museum of art ukiyo e japanese woodblock prints japan chushingura japanese art woodblock prints forty seven rōnin 47 ronin

1870

San Diego Museum of Art

http://commons.wikimedia.org/

public domain