The tale of 47 ronin (masterless samurai) is perhaps the most talked-about story of loyalty and warrior ethics in Japanese history. The story, which has been retold countless times in the centuries since it was first recounted in 1703 provides an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the history and culture of early modern Japan while also introducing past historical events and change over time.
The story starts with the incident that took place in 1701 at the castle of Tokugawa Shogun, located in the capital of Edo (present-day Tokyo). Officials at the castle, led by the feudal lord Asano, Daimyo of the Ako domain in Western Honshu, were guiding envoys from the imperial court in Kyoto through a series of diplomatic rituals at the Shogun’s court. Despite the attention given by the contemporary observers and later commentators, the exact details of the incident remain murky, providing historians and storytellers ample opportunity for speculation. According to multiple research, on the last day of the envoy’s visit, Asano drew his sword in the corridors of Shogun’s castle, a capital offense, and attempted to cut samurai Kira, a senior government official and direct retainer of the Shogun.
Asano wounded Kira on the shoulder and forehead before being taken into custody. Judgment was passed down quickly, and Asano was ordered to death by seppuku (ritual suicide) the same day. His domain was confiscated and his samurai retainers were released from duty and set adrift as ronin. Kira escaped punishment which many of the Ako ronin found unacceptable.
Forty-seven of Asano’s former retainers vowed revenge and twenty-two months later, 46 of them declared that they were fulfilling their lord’s original intention and attacked the Edo mansion of Kira, decapitating him. Despite the fact that one of them dropped just before the attack still went by “47 ronin”. They marched across the capital carrying Kira’s head to the temple of Sengakuji, where they presented their offering to their deceased lord’s grave.
For a month and a half, government officials debated how to respond to the killing and ordered 46 ronin to death by seppuku for the crimes of conspiracy and disturbing the peace in Edo. The ronin were buried near their lord’s grave in the temple of Sengakuji, where to this day they continued to be worshipped as the “Righteous Samurai of Ako”.
So, there it is, a bit of history for this week. Please feel free to forward/share this with your loved ones, feel free to let me know your feedback.
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