A venerated, blood-soaked 300-year-old tale of revenge and loyalty that still resonates through Japan today, is being played out on the walls of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
The gallery has launched Virtuous Vendetta: The story of the 47 Ronin in Prints, a collection of 69 meticulous woodblock images produced by JapanB次元官网网址檚 finest artists in the 1700 and 1800s. The individual scenes follow the oft-repeated true story of the 47 ronin, while demonstrating the striking detail in what 150 years ago was considered disposable, mass produced art.
B次元官网网址淚t is a tragedy. Like the Greeks, the Japanese like their tragic stories,B次元官网网址� said Barry Till, curator of Asian art for the AGGV for 31 years. Till pulled the collection together over the past several decades. B次元官网网址淭he story has become the ultimate symbol of the spirit of loyalty to oneB次元官网网址檚 master, no matter what.B次元官网网址�
The story unfolds in 1701, with feudal lords Asano Naganori and the elder Kira Yoshinaka, a greedy man who demanded large bribes for advice on official etiquette. Enraged, Asano drew his sword and nicked Kira in the forehead, although unsheathing his weapon within the shogunB次元官网网址檚 grounds was a serious offence.
On the shogunB次元官网网址檚 order, Asano committed seppuku B次元官网网址� ritual suicide B次元官网网址� setting in motion a plot for revenge by AsanoB次元官网网址檚 samurai warriors against Lord Kira. Forty-six masterless samurai called ronin (the 47th is rumoured to be a warrior who wasnB次元官网网址檛 quite a samurai) bided their time before launching an attack. The lead ronin 脭ishi Kuranosuke even made himself appear as a drunk and a womanizer to lull KiraB次元官网网址檚 men into complacency.
B次元官网网址淎fter a year-and-a-half they assaulted KiraB次元官网网址檚 mansion. They killed many bodyguards, found Kira and presented him with the sword of their master to commit suicide. Kira refused so they cut off his head,B次元官网网址� Till said moving from print to print.
Villagers hailed the ronin as heroes as they travelled to Tokyo to present KiraB次元官网网址檚 head to their masterB次元官网网址檚 grave. B次元官网网址淭hese samurai showed the ultimate loyalty,B次元官网网址� Till said, B次元官网网址渁nd they knew because of it, they had to kill themselves.B次元官网网址�
Again on the shogunB次元官网网址檚 orders and without question, the 46 committed seppuku. Within weeks of their deaths in 1703, people began telling the story of revenge of the ronin through kabuki theater. Millions of ornate woodblock prints soon followed as the story struck a chord with Japanese society and gained widespread popularity.
B次元官网网址淭he prints are art of the masses, often posted in houses until they fell apart and were thrown out,B次元官网网址� said Till, who wrote a book on the prints of the 47 ronin. B次元官网网址淪ome prints were put into storage. Often you find ones that are 150 to 200 years old in pristine condition. New ones are found all the time.B次元官网网址�
Till collected approximately 25 new ronin prints over the past two years through online auctions. Recently depressed prices also brought many Japanese woodblock prints out of the woodwork.
Auctioned prints can fetch up to $400, but $150 is an average price. B次元官网网址淭en years ago it would have been double or triple. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good time to buy,B次元官网网址� Till said.
The prints add to the 4000-plus pieces of Japanese art owned by the AGGV. B次元官网网址淲e have arguably the best collection of Japanese art in Canada B次元官网网址� samurai suits, ceramics, paintings,B次元官网网址� he said.
Till had planned the exhibition to coincide with the release of the movie 47 Ronin which stars Keanu Reeves, although that filmB次元官网网址檚 release date is now December 2013.
B次元官网网址淭he scenes are so expressive. The outfits are so strong and powerful,B次元官网网址� Till said. B次元官网网址淚 wanted to show how popular the story is in Japan.B次元官网网址�
Virtuous Vendetta prints are on display at AGGV until March 31, 2013. Barry Till is offering a curatorB次元官网网址檚 tour on Jan. 16, 2013 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. See aggv.ca for more.
