Postcard Takanawa Sengakuji 1
A black-and-white photograph of the graves of 47 rōnin, masterless samurai “Akōrōshi” who in 1703 committed suicide (or hara-kiri) on the orders of the then shogun after an incident when they collectively succeeded in avenging their master’s honour. This story was later adapted for the Bunraku puppet theatre and Kabuki theatre as “Chūshingura” and became very popular, as it symbolises loyalty, sacrifice and honour in the Japanese tradition.
Manufacturing technique: black-and-white print
Inscription: （東京名所）泉岳寺義士墓ノ全景 Tōkyō meisho Sengakuji gishi haka no zenkei (Famous places in Tokyo: Full view of warriors' graves Akōrōshi)
View of Grave Gishi Sengakuji, Tokyo.
No. of parts: 1
Current owner: Celje Regional Museum
Date of the last acquisition: 1957–1960
Previous owners and periods of ownership: Alma M. Karlin (from year 1950)| Thea Schreiber Gammelin (from year 1950 to year 1957)| Celje Regional Museum (from year 1957)
Object condition, handling and damage: well preserved
Press releases: Shigemori Bučar, Chikako. “Alma M. Karlin’s Visits to Temples and Shrines in Japan". Poligrafi 93/94, volume 24 (2019).
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