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- l/l/. Hiroshige Ando
(1797-1858)
Series: Chushingura:
The Loyal League of the Forty-seven Ronin/ De la serie Chushingura : Histoire des quarante-sept ronin Woodblock prints
This print shows Act XI of the play Chushingura where the ronin (masterless samurai) are attempting to break into the residence of Kira by forcing open the shutters with bent bamboo. One ronin is armed with a large axe and another carries a huge mallet to break down the gate.
illuminated in woodblock prints was a true story that unfolded between 1700 and 1702. The story deals with a group of samurai known as ronin, as they were left without a master after their daimyo, Asano Naganori, was condemned to commit ritual suicide {seppuku) by the authorities for drawing his sword against another daimyo, Kira Yoshinaka, who had gravely insulted him. Asanos samurai decided to secretly take vengeance upon Kira, despite knowing that such an act would be like signing their own death warrant. After disbanding and being involved in drunkenness and debauchery for about one and a half years to lull their enemy into a false sense of security, they met to carry out their vendetta. Forty-seven of these ronin launched an assault on Kiras residence, beheaded him and then presented his head at their masters tomb. Their self-sacrificing loyalty to their master made them instant national heroes. Throughout Japan people expressed their admiration
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