ARTIST: UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (1797 – 1861). SERIES: BIOGRAPHIES OF THE LOYAL RETAINERS (THE 47 RONIN). NISHIKI-E (INK ON PAPER). SIZE: 9.5 INCHES X 6.5 INCHES. (24 CM X 16.5 CM). AGE: 108 YEARS OLD. UKIYO-E PICTURES OF THE FLOATING WORLD. GENRE: MUSHA-E (PICTURES OF SAMURAI / WARRIORS / RONIN). MATERIAL: WASHI HANDMADE PAPER. COMMENTS: HANDMADE WOODBLOCK PRINT OR WOODCUT DONE BY HAND THE OLD WAY (Not a poster, not a lithograph and not done with any other modern printing technique). A ronin was a samurai in feudal Japan who was without a master. The term literally translates to “wandering man” or “drifter”. Ronin were samurai who lost their master’s favor or legal privilege, or whose master died. They often became mercenaries or bodyguards, but also turned to gambling and extortion. The term ronin comes from the Japanese words ro (wave) and nin (man or person). The story of the 47 ronin is a famous samurai tale based on true events in 1703.