The 47 ronin were a group of samurai who avenged their master’s death by killing the offender, despite it being forbidden. They then committed seppuku as punishment. The story illustrates Japanese concepts of honor and manners and remains popular in Japan through various adaptations.
The story of the 47 ronin has been a well-known legend in Japan for more than 300 years. It is based on a real historical event from the beginning of the 18th century. The 18 ronin were a squadron of samurai, sword-wielding horsemen who waged a complex plot to avenge the death of their master. According to Japan’s strict honor system, this task meant that the samurai would lose their own lives, but still carried out their revenge. The tale illustrates distinctively Japanese concepts of order, honor, and good manners that are still respected in modern Japan.
During the first decade of the 1700s, two Japanese daimyo, or feudal lords, became involved in an altercation. Responding to a perceived insult, daimyo Asano attacked daimyo Kira with a drawn dagger. Although Kira’s injuries were minor, the incident took place in the home of the shogun, a high official of the emperor. This was a serious offense and Asano was forced to commit seppuku, a form of ritual suicide, as punishment. This meant that the warriors under Asano’s command became ronin, or leaderless samurai.
These 47 ronin felt compelled by the Japanese honor system to avenge their master’s death. The shogun, however, had forbidden acts of vengeance against Kira. The 47 ronin scattered, biding their time as part of a plan to get Kira to let her guard down. At the appointed time, two years after Asano’s suicide, they attacked Kira’s home and killed him. The shogun ordered the ronin to commit seppuku, which they did; they were later honorably buried in Tokyo.
The story of the 47 ronin captured the imagination of the Japanese populace almost immediately. It featured many concepts important to the culture of the nation, such as honorable behavior even in the face of disgrace and death. In modern times, the tale remains popular in Japan, due to what it reveals about Japanese history and character. A corresponding Western culture tale is Charge of the Light Brigade, based on an ill-fated 19th-century Crimean War British regiment. The British poet Tennyson turned the historical tragedy into a famous poem, celebrating military duty in the face of certain defeat.
In the centuries since the 47 ronin’s deaths, their story has been turned into stage dramas, movies, and even comic books. In Japan, these stories are collectively called Chūshingura, which means faithful servants. The tale is so famous that no further description is needed. The most famous film version, by Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi, was intended to raise national morale in the early years of World War II; it was not seen in the West until the 1970s. The Tombs of the 47 ronin remain a popular shrine and tourist destination in modern Tokyo.
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