Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) Chushingura-series-148

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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