Karujo's Grief of Parting

The vendetta for their lord by the held by the Ako Ronin (samurai without a lord) in 1702 has been dramatized for plays and books. Among those, “Kanadehon Chushingura” for Kabuki and puppet theater Ningyo-joruri is particularly familiar. Okaru is a character in the play and considered an active and devoted wife. However, Okaru in this work is not her, but the one known as the mistress of Oishi Yoshio, in Kyoto according to Shoen. The night before Oishi was to travel to Edo to raid Kira residence, Okaru realized of his secret plan. She played the koto music instrument in sorrow of the forthcoming separation and uttered poem of encouragement: “You may cross a 7-foot high screen if you leap. You may rip a twill sleeve if you pull hard.” Shoen magnificently depicted the graceful and spirited woman who gave a send-off in Koto music and a poem in somber but composed appearance and expression. This work focused on human feeling using themes from history and literature, and is one of her most important works in the early days.