Act Six: Yoichibei's House from the play Chushingura (Treausry of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers) c. 1795

This woodblock print, Act Six: Yoichibei's House from the play Chushingura, was created by Katsukawa Shun'ei. Shun'ei was one of the leading ukiyo-e artists of late 18th-century Japan, specializing in images of Kabuki actors. Here, Shun'ei depicts a scene from the famous Chushingura story, a tale of loyalty and revenge. The play, set in the early 1700s, captures an important shift in Japan's social structure under the Tokugawa Shogunate. The samurai class, bound by codes of honor, were gradually being sidelined, as merchants gained prominence in Japan's burgeoning urban centers. Shun'ei worked at a time when the traditional arts and social hierarchies were being questioned. Woodblock prints, widely circulated, became a medium through which artists like Shun'ei could both celebrate tradition and reflect on the changing times. The story of the 47 Ronin resonated deeply in Japanese society, raising questions about duty, sacrifice, and the cost of loyalty. Art historians can look to popular culture and theater history to understand the full impact of this image. By understanding the social and institutional context, we see this print as more than just an illustration; it becomes a window into a pivotal moment in Japanese history.