Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

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“Records of the loyal retainers“ 
- Chūyū gishin roku (忠雄義臣録) -

“Legend of the loyal retainers“
- Chūyū gishin den (忠雄義臣伝)  -

 

last updated:

new pictures: 09/20/21

 

new information: 09/20/21

 

Two very similar Kunisada Chūshingura series, both designed around 1847/1850. 

For the series “Records of the loyal retainers” there are two different sheets of each act 6 and 9.
It is not known whether other versions of the other chapters also exist or whether there is possibly a third Chūshingura series from shortly before 1850.

 

The series Legend of the loyal retainers has been printed in many editions, some with a zigzag border in black and white representing the loyal retainers, others with a blue border with blue bats in small white circular cartouches and some with a ligth blue border with blue bats in small yellow circular cartouches.
It is usually assumed that the prints with the zigzag border are the first series published by Yamadaya Shōbei (later changed his name to Yamadaya Shōjirō).
Robert Pryor drew my attention to a complete series "blue border, blue bats" from the City of Ako database.
After looking closely at these prints, I have come to believe that this variant, published by Izumiya Ichibei, is the first variant.
The printing plates were apparently sold to Yamadaya Shōbei, who added the new "frame" with the zigzag line.
This frame was changed again to a "bat frame" in later editions. The frame was now thinner and also two-tone.
In these last prints, parts of the previous printing plates were revised and minor changes made.

 

Records of the loyal retainers
 

act 01

signature: Ichiyōsai Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

 

act 02

signature: Kunisada toneri Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

  variant act 02

The signature is "extended" so that the cartouche with the publisher's name is included.
No publisher name recognizable.

act 03

signature: Kōchōrō Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N1

act 04

signature: Ichiyōsai Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

act 05

signature: Kunisada toneri Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: Muramatsu, Yoshimura
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N103

act 06a

signature: Kōchōrō Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: thanks to Bernhard Brinker for the image

act 06b

signature: Kōchōrō Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

act 07

signature: Ichiyōsai Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

act 08

signature: Kunisada toneri Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N43

act 09a

signature: Kōchōrō Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N4

act 09b

signature: Ichiyōsai Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

act 10

signature: Kunisada toneri Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N43

act 11

signature: Kōchōrō Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: ??
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

act 01

signature: Ichiyōsai Toyokuni hitsu

 

 

 

size: ōban, yoko-e
censor seal: Muramatsu, Yoshimura
date: c. 1847
publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
ref.: N2

 

Legend of the loyal retainers
All prints signed "Ichiyōsai Toyokuni hitsu"; censor seals Mera and Murata; ōban, yoko-e
left row published by Izumiya Ichibei, center and right by Yamadaya Shōbei

 

references

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) - series and prints