Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) (artist 11/15/1797 – 03/05/1861)
The End (Taibi - 大尾), Jinzaburō (甚三郎), retainer of Shikamatsu Kanroku (鹿松諌家僕塵三郎) from the series Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai (Seichū gishi den - 誠忠義士傳)
1847
9.75 in x 14.25 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga
一勇斎国芳画
Artist's seal: kiri
Publisher: Ebiya Rinnosuke
(Marks 040 - seal not listed)
Censor's seal: Mera and Murata
Tokyo Metropolitan Library
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - with the seal for 'The End' (taibi - 大尾)
British Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - a copy of this print without 'The End' (taibi - 大尾) seal
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg - with the seal for 'The End'
The State Hermitage Museum
Allentown Museum of Art
Muscarelle Museum of Art in Williamsburg, Virginia
Walters Art Museum (via Cultural Japan) Henry D. Smith II wrote in a footnote to a scholarly work on the Chūshingura: "The most famous of these servants [i.e. komono 小者], both in fact and legend, was Jinzaburō 甚三郎, the servant-retainer of Chikamatsu Kanroku 近松勘六 (1670-1703) who brought oranges and rice cakes for the rōnin after the attack on Kira."
A komono was just one type of servant. The word itself can be translated as a young person; a petty servant; an errand boy of a samurai family; a person of a lowly status; or a menial.
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"The End" or "taibi" (大尾) from the title does not appear on this print in the Lyon Collection. If it did it would show up in a circle just below and to the left of the publisher's seal. Compare it to the first link above to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston with a copy of this print with the 大尾 seal. The second link, which we have added to another copy in their collection is like the one shown here - without the "taibi" imprint.
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There is a commercial web site that calls itself the "Postcard Museum" (絵葉書資料館). A fascinating site worth visiting. One of the postcards they are offering is an old, non-colored reproduction of the print shown on this page, but with an awkwardly translated title in English at the bottom: "JinZaburo, the Vassal of Kanroku, Chikamats." No date is given but it looks to be from the late 19th to early years of the 20th century.
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The text reads:
塵三郎は鹿松の家に数年奉公して篤実の者なりければ赤尾離散の后も主人諌六に従ひ浪人中患難辛苦して関東の偶居に在ながら主人を労りけるに既に討入の忌に及び義士等各借家を家主に戻し家財を売仕度区々なりければ諌六も塵三郎に永々の忠節をねぎらひ此度外浪人の輩と倶に東国に赴くに付長の暇を遣す間何方へなりとも立退奉公致すべきよし言聞せ金子五両を取出し与へしかば塵三郎は大きに望を失ひし体にて金子を突戻し涙を流し賤身分と思召是迄一言の御物語は之なくとも朝暮御側に居ながら大望の御企いかで推察いたさゞらん其節は天晴働きして名を后世に残さんと国元へも筺状まで出せしを御暇被下とは情なき御心忠義に二つはなかるべしといへば諌六答へ言やう汝の誠忠某兼て知らざるにはあらねども倍臣さへに憚あるを亦者は伴ひがたき誓約なれば其理を暁して聞わくべしと言葉を尽し諭ければ漸に納得なし討入の節階子水籠等を運び義士引取の節餅蜜柑の類を持来て飢を助しとぞ 后剃髪し仙覚寺の墓守となりしといへり 其頃の狂句に 「うろたへて塵三は猫をかつぎ出し トいへるは蜜柑の籠を取違しならんとの滑稽也とぞ 応需 一筆庵誌」
The author of this text is Ippitsu-an (一筆庵誌).
A crude Google translation is: "Jinzaburo served as a servant to the Kanmatsu family for several years, and if he was a sincere man, he would follow his master Iroku even after the separation of Akao, and he would be able to take care of his master while living in a joint residence in the Kanto region, suffering hardships as a ronin. On the occasion of his death, Iroku returned all the rented houses to the landlords and sold their belongings, and Iroku expressed his eternal loyalty to Jinzaburo. While he was there, he was told that Kaneko should be evicted from prison, and he took five ryo of Kaneko.He lost all hope and pushed Kaneko back in tears, thinking that he was a lowly socialist. So far, I can tell you a single story, but I can only guess that it was an ambitious plan while being at Asagu's side.In that episode, Tenharu worked hard and left his name for future generations, even going so far as to send a message to Kunimoto. I say to Isahiro that there is no such thing as merciless loyalty to a servant who is your servant.I must know your sincerity and loyalty, but I am afraid to be your subordinate. When the holders were told that they should listen to the truth in the morning when the oath was made, they were not convinced, and they carried the sieges of the raiders, the water baskets, etc. I'll bring it to you and help the famine. Afterwards, I shaved my head and became the tomb guard at Sengaku-ji Temple. At that time, there was a Kyōku poem that said, ``In a panic, Jinzo brought out the cat, and Toheru must not take the basket of mandarin oranges by mistake.'' It's humorous and in demand."
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Illustrated in Kuniyoshi: The Faithful Samurai by David R. Weinberg, Hotei Publishing, 2000, #I.51.
Ebiya Rinnosuke (海老屋林之助) (publisher)
Chūshingura (忠臣蔵 - 47 Rōnin) (genre)