This manga is a long reader from the late Edo period by Kyokutei (Takizawa) Bakin, which has influenced modern fantasy works. The story centers on the youngest dog warrior, Inue Shinbei, and tells the mysterious tale of eight young men who are bound together by fate, all of whom have the character "dog" (dog) in their surnames and share the eight jewels of benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, loyalty, faith, filial piety, and brotherhood, as well as a peony birthmark.