The
Forty-seven Ronin of Ako
It
was the period known as the Genroku era (1688-1704) when the most famous tale of
revenge took place in Edo (present day Tokyo). The fifth Tokugawa shogun named Tsuneyoshi ruled and he had introduced strict laws,
inspired by Buddhism, guaranteeing the sanctity of life for all living things.
The main beneficiary of these Life Preservation Laws, were the feral dogs that
roamed freely around Edo and gave the shogun the nick-name of the Dog Shogun. It
was a time of the rise of the merchant class, the kabuki in which the ordinary
folk satirised their “betters” and a general lowering of moral standards.
Most samurai fulfilled bureaucratic or administrative roles within the clan
structure, but those with no clan affiliations were cast adrift to make a living
in any way they could and were known as “ronin” or “wave-men”. No living
samurai had actual combat experience, the last war being back in the early
1600’s and so the prospects of re-employment for a ronin were very slim.
The
system of Sankin Kodai meant that all daimyo or feudal lords were required to spend time in the capital in attendance on the shogun.
It was on such a visit that the young Lord of Ako in Harima province, Asano
Takumi (no) Kami, triggered the incident. The facts of the so-called “Ako
Incident” are not in dispute but the way in which they are viewed mean that it
has assumed legendary proportions. Orginally represented in ukiyo-e (woodblock
prints) Bunraku (puppet theatre) and kabuki the story has now been retold in
film, books and on TV.
In
1701, Lord Asano was appointed, together with another Lord, to receive
emissaries from the Imperial Court in Kyoto This involved the observance of
strict rules of etiquette and deportment and Lord Asano was to take instruction
from the shogun’s etiquette instructor, one Kira Kozuke (no) Suke. Kira is
portrayed as the bribe-taking, corrupt villain of the piece. Lord Asano was not
prepared to bribe Kira who viewed the young Lord as a country bore and showed
him open contempt. Asano, driven to the point of distraction, drew his short
sword and attacked Kira, but only succeeded in slightly wounding him before
being restrained by court guards.
Drawing
a sword in the shogun’s castle was a heinous crime and the death penalty along
with the confiscation of Asano’s domain, was the only possible punishment. By
virtue of his rank, Lord Asano was allowed the samurai’s death of seppuku (hara-kiri)
rather than that of simple decapitation had he been of common stock. Messengers
were immediately dispatched with the news to the fief castle at Ako where it was
received with shock by the clan’s retainers who were now immediately reduced
in rank to ronin. Oishi Kuranosuke, Asano’s chief retainer, decided to hand
over the castle without offering any resistance and the retinue dispersed all
over the country and obtained whatever employment they could. Some became
farmers, others carpenters or labourers whilst at least one opened an archery
school (ronin often taught martial arts which was often the only skill they
processed) where townsfolk were his clients.
Back in Edo, Kira expected some kind of problem from the Ako ronin and initially was closely guarded. He sent spies to observe the ronin’s movements in an attempt to foresee their intentions. Oishi Kuranosuke, the chief retainer, was the subject of especially close scrutiny. However, Oishi moved to the Yamashina district of Kyoto and seemingly pursued a life devoted to drunkenness and the pursuit of self indulgence. He seemed to have lost all direction and even divorced his wife of twenty years and moved a young geisha into his home. It is said that he was often to be found prostate in the street, the worse for drink, and that his sword, the symbol of his samurai class, was rusted inside its scabbard. When in this state he was once kicked in the face by a samurai from Satsuma province who told him that he should be ashamed of himself and that he was a disgrace to the samurai class!
Oishi is insulted by a Satsuma
samurai
Certainly
such behaviour was unbecoming and gradually the spy’s activities were
decreased as Kira became more confident. It seemed that Oishi and his fellow
ronin harboured no desire to avenge their lord and that Kira could sleep easy.
Kira Kozuke (no) Suke, however, had been lured into a false sense of security
and the day of reckoning was approaching.
On 14th December, 1702, a year after Asano’s attack on Kira, the ronin of Ako gathered in a snow covered city of Edo. Of the original number, forty-seven remained dedicated to avenge their Lord’s untimely death and these included a fighting fit Oishi Kuranosuke and his 16 year old son. They donned home made armour and fire-fighter’s black and white surcoats that they believed might help them have unimpeded movement on the way to their target. One of their number had obtained the plans of Kira’s estate and they planned a two pronged attack, one arm being led by Oishi and the other by his son. Archers were put on the roofs to prevent anyone summoning reinforcements and, late that night the attack began. Kira’s defenders, although initially caught unawares, put up stiff resistance but were no match for the highly motivated forty-seven ronin of Ako. Although they fought long and hard, there was no sign of Kira who, as dawn approached, was eventually found hiding with the women and children in an out-building. The whistle was blown to signify that Kira had been captured alive and the ronin gathered around him. Oishi is said to have knelt humbly before him, in respect of his superior rank, and offered him the opportunity to commit seppuku. In accordance with his venal reputation, he cowed and refused this offer and was therefore decapitated by Oishi.
Kira is offered a tanto, the same
that Asano used to commit seppuku, but refuses it.
Having succeeded in their objective, the forty-seven ronin took Kira’s head to the Sengakuji temple where heir Lord was buried and after washing it, placed the head before their Lord’s grave. Offering no resistance to the shogunate authorities they were placed in the custody of various other daimyo resident in Edo and there awaited the decision of their fate.
After the attack the ronin crossed
the Ryogoku bridge on their way to Sengakuji.
Capturing
the imagination of the entire population, their great act of loyalty to their
dead Lord, was considered entirely in accordance with the precepts of Bushido,
the “way of the warrior” and the act of true samurai, sadly lacking in the
hedonistic cities of the Genroku period. Of course, such an act of violence
against one of the shogun’s officials was a very serious breach of the peace
and a capital crime. However, as the forty-seven had made such an impression and
although they were no longer samurai, it was decided to allow them all the
privilege of seppuku. After the act, they were all buried at Sengakuji
where their graves remain to this day. The Satsuma samurai who had insulted
Oishi, realising he was mistaken, also committed seppuku and is buried
alongside the forty-seven.
One
of the iconic images of the “Ako incident” is that depicted on the Japanese
woodblock prints that became very popular in Europe during later 19th
century and early 20th century. One artist to produce a series of
these prints was Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) who was highly acclaimed for his
portrayals of heroic warriors and we show six here with translations of the
text, which relates to the parts played by the warrior on the night of the
attack and not the action illustrated. There are interesting details of the
individuals and the attack in these texts. As these prints were made during the
Tokugawa period, often the names of the protagonists are changed in compliance
with shogunal laws. Kira for instance is called “Moronao" and Oishi,
Oboshi.
There
is a surprising amount of detail regarding the actual weapons carried by the
ronin on the night of the attack. These are supplied by a Nisei (2nd
generation Japanese/American) named Albert Yamanaka who was part of the US
occupation forces after World War 2. The late Yamanaka was a sword enthusiast
who sent a monthly sword newsletter home to fellow collectors. He managed to
compile a list of the weapons carried by 33 out of the 47. The list details the
length of the swords and details any other weapons carried by the ronin. Where
known the name of the relevant swordsmith is listed but this is not sufficiently
detailed to identify the actual swordsmith. The Japanese measuring system was 1
shaku = 11.1 inches, 30.3 cm, and 1 sun = 1.1 inches, 3.03 cm and 1 bu
= 0.1 inch, 0.3 cm. Yamanaka states “Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshikatsu, aged 45,
katana mei: Norinaga, length 2 shaku 8 sun. Wakizashi mei: Norinaga, length 2
shaku, te yari” and this is the kind of information he gives on all 33
ronin. These Yamanaka notes are quoted below where applicable.
NAKAMURA
KANSUKE TADATOKI
Kansuke Tadatoki was an austere,
frugal retainer of the Ako daimyoaite, a placid and gentle man. He was an expert
in the martial arts, with no taste for the ostentatious or extravagant. On the
death of his lord he took his wife and family with him. At the time of his
withdrawal from Harima (province) his eldest son, Kanjiro, was five, and his
second son Chuzaburo, two. He lay low in Kyoto with Oboshi, joining the league
for avenging his lord. With money he had saved he sent his wife back to her
home, asking for them to care for her there, and gave out that he was going up
to the Kanto to pay his respects to his lord and to see the sites. He journeyed
to the east (i.e. Edo); he went to Honjo and became a disciple of the haiku
(couplets) poet, Kitaku, writing haiku himself under the name Hyoshu. Otaka
Shiyo, Sasaki Chikuhei and Tomimori Shunpo constantly visited Kikaku and
Sentoku, using these visits as a way of gathering information about the house of
the enemy. On the night of the attack, Kasuke fought valiantly; providence
rewarded him for the long hardships that he had suffered and their lord was
avenged. As they left the gate, each one with his desire achieved, the
gatekeeper came out with a torch. Looking back, Tadatoki saw it. “Careful with
that light” he said. and ordered him to put it out. When the gatekeeper
murmured, “Surely you have nothing against the torch!” Anger flared in
Tadatoki’s countenance and cursing the man as a low wretch he drove his spear
sideways through his ribs with a single thrust. The fellow gave one scream and
died. The company went forward – so it was said afterwards – with a great
burst of laughter.
(According
to Yamanaka, Nakamura had a katana with a mei (signature) of “Nagakuni”
which was 2 shaku 4 sun in length. His wakizashi was unsigned and he also
carried a long yari or spear - CS)
ORIBE
YAHEI KANAMARU
Oribe Yahei Kanamaru was 78
in the year of the longed for vengeance was achieved, but he was more vigorous
than many in their prime. He had long been an expert in martial arts. He was a
master of strategy of the Yamamoto school and a brave and mighty warrior...
Praising Ysaubei’s skill at the attack on Takadanobaba, he took him as a
husband for his beloved daughter – such was his constant delight in valour.
Not long before the night of the attack, he had been pleased to hear how the
Isshi brothers had killed Akabori Mizuemon, their father’s enemy, at the
Kameyama in Ise province. He was eager to praise all and sundry for what they
had done and to tell of Ysaubei’s exploit, when what should happen but the
death of his own lord….full of rancour, he joined Oishi’s league, waiting
earnestly for the day of revenge. He had always been a skilled spearman and on
the night of the attack the old man’s fearsome shouts, astounded all who heard
them. His son-in-law Yasubei, while fighting gallantly himself, gave Yahei every
assistance and together, father and son-in-law slew many of the enemy. When
having achieved vengeance, they had to submit to the punishment for the crime.
Yahei’s sixteen year old daughter, donned a nun’s grey in mourning for her
father and husband, took the name Myokai, and lived the other side of Rokuamida
in Kamedo. Later she made herself a hermitage at Sengakuji, where she is said to
have died at the age of ninety-three. There is a poem on Yahei’s spear-pennon:
Though I thought
I had lived too long
Without merit
The joy of it now
This moment of old age!
(According
to Yamanaka, his katana was an extreme 3 shaku in length, but was unsigned and
that he had no wakizashi. His so-in-law, Yasubei mentioned above is reputed to
have carried an unusual weapon known as an “otsuchi” which was basically an
enormous hammer. –CS)
TOKUDA
SADAEMON YUKITAKA
Tokuda
Yukitaka was an expert in swimming. When after killing Moronao the retainers
withdrew to the Ryoboku Bridge, and were told by an informer that many were
coming after them in pursuit, Kataoka Dengoemon, Sasaki Yagoro and Tokuda
Sadaemon hurriedly took Moronao’s head to Sengakuji in a small boat that had
been got ready. The other loyal retainers, numbering more that forty, determined
to die together rather than give ground, gathered in front of the gate of the
Nikoin Temple, uncertain of their next move, but in view of the confusion their
arrival caused in the temple, and because there was no sign of pursuit, they
then made their way in a quiet and orderly column towards Tsukiji, aiming for
Sengakuji in Shima.
MASE
CHUDAIFU MASAAKI
Masaaki changed his name to
Mitsuhashi Jotei and practised as a doctor in a rented house in Koshi-machi. His
son Magaroku changed his name to Koichiro. Pretending to have come from the
Western provinces to solicit contributions from their present lord for the
rebuilding of the shrine, he was living with three or four (sc other?) retainers
in Jotei’s house. At the attack, on 14th December, in spite of his
sixty-two years, he fought valiantly as any younger man, cutting his way in from
the porch with the second band, shouting fearsomely as he went The enemy
warrior, Mori Banzaemon engaged him, and the two engaged in fierce combat, when
Hara Mimura, seeing what was going on, and noting how dangerous a swordsman Mori
was, attacked him from the side thinking to rescue the aged Mase; but Chudaifu
undaunted and unwearyingly shouted, “On, on further into the house!” and
continued to carry all before him like a raging tiger, sending sparks flying
from his sword hilt. Aiming unerringly, he struck at Mori’s forehead; in his
well trained hands his Kunitoshi sword split his opponents head in two. Spouting
blood, Mori died instantly, without even a cry. One naming himself Komori Genji
faced him next, blocking the doorway right in front of him so that he could not
pass. Infuriated, Chudaifu crossed swords with Komori, and then cut him with
high stokes then low. Noted fighter though he was, Komori could not hold out
against him and tried to withdraw backwards, whereupon Chudaifu struck at him
from the side. When Komori failed to avoid the blow, Chudaifu cut out the flesh
from below the ribs on his right side, right up and tossed away. From this one
has a vivid sense of the prowess of this amazing old man.
(According to the above text, Chudaifu used a “Kunitoshi” blade. This may have been an old Yamashiro blade by Rai Kunitoshi. However, Yamanaka gives conflicting information stating that his katana had a mei of “Michitaka” and it was only 2 shaku I sun in length, whilst his wakizashi with a mei “Yoshitsune” was 2 shaku in length- CS)
TOKUDA
MAGODAFU SHIGEMORI
Shigemori was an expert in
the Shinto style of fencing. With his son Tadamon, thinking to kill Moronao, the
enemy of his dead lord, he joined the league of loyal retainers and entered the
house under the orders of Oboshi. In spite of his more that fifty years he gave
as good an account of himself as those in the prime of life. Mistaking
Moronao’s son Moroyasu for his enemy, he was laying in wait to strike him down
when the signal whistle blew and he found, on running to the place, that Yazama
and Takebayashi and the others with them, had already killed the enemy. Thus he
lost the chance to kill Moroyasu, but the loyal retainers, overjoyed, raised a
cry of triumph. Then quietly they left the mansion with Magodaifu and Yahei
bringing up the rear.
(Shigemori’s
katana had a mei of “Kunitaka” and was 2 shaku 4 sun in length whilst his
wakizashi mei is unknown but was 1 shaku 6 sun in length. Yamanaka also states
that he was 53 years old at the time).
HAYANO
WASUKE TSUNENARI
Hayano Tsunenari was a master
of archery, never missing a single shot in a hundred. On the night of the
avenging attack, moved by Kampei’s loyal death, and bearing in mind that he
(sc Tsunenari) had the same name (sc as Kampei’s) sent Tsunenari into the
house of the enemy with the words “Hayano, loyal to the death” inscribed on
his spear pennon. Running in through the small back gate, Tsunenari first ran
the gatekeeper through. This was thought (sc by the enemy) to be the work of
Kampei. As he crawled along the roof and shot his arrows in quick succession at
every door of the long one storey building, the men inside thought that the
house must be on fire and rushed out frantically, only to be shot at by arrows
from above, whereupon they retreated into the house again in confusion, nobody
going out to face him. Then he made his way in, aiming for Moronao’s room,
bravely cutting down all who opposed him. When finally he heard the signal
whistle, he and the others gathered in the servant’s room, and found the
severed head of the enemy.
Tsunenari had a taste for
composing haiku. He studied under
Sentoku taking the poetic name of Joryu. When he achieved his great wish, he
made this poem:
On
a puff of wind
My
life departs –
Kite
climbing!
On the night of the attack,
he attached a slip of poetry-paper to his quiver with this poem:
Though
the snow fall
At
Kotesasihara
No
letter
Shall
I send
To
Yamato.
Early
in days of the Tokugawa shogunate, strict laws were promulgated restricting the
length of the katana, which was to be under 2 shaku 3 sun. The list shows that
many swords carried by the ronin on the night of the attack were very much
longer than the prescribed length. As the samurai on Kira’s estate only
carried swords of the legal length allowed, the forty-seven may have purposely
used longer blades to gain an important tactical, albeit illegal, advantage.
However, a number, including Oishi, also favoured short spears known as te-yari,
which were more convenient in the confined space of Kira’s mansion. Others
carried naginata (halberds) and
several archers prevented messengers leaving the estate to seek reinforcements.
No firearms seem to have been used in the attack and it is probable that they
were considered to be more suited to battlefield tactics. It should also be
noted that 10 of the 33 mentioned by Yamanaka were aged over 50, including 6
over 60 and one at 77!
As
previously stated, the tale of the vendetta still has folk legend status even
today in Japan. However some dissident voices point out, that Lord Asano’s
assault on Kira, which sparked off the series of events, was incredibly selfish.
To risk the fall of his house and the repercussions to his family and retainers,
not to mention that he would also lose his own life, over perceived insults and
hurt feelings, was unforgivable. Added to this, Asano’s attack on Kira, did
not even kill him, only wounding him slightly. This might be interpreted as Lord
Asano was also unskilled and incompetent! Similarly the ronin themselves are
open to criticism. It is said that they should have immediately attacked Kira,
even if he was fully prepared and even if they failed to kill him. Waiting a
year showed a scheming mind rather than a brave attitude that reacted
immediately to the circumstances, as was the samurai way. Some even think that
it is possible Oishi’s debauched life might have been genuine and that he only
joined the league late, in a spirit of repentance! Further, after they had
successfully killed Kira the ronin should have immediately committed seppuku, to
delay it meant they harboured a hope of being pardoned and having their lives
spared, even though they had blatantly flouted the shogun’s law in a number of
ways.
It is reported by Lord Resdale (AB Mitford of the British Legation in Japan in 1860’s) that in September 1868, at a time when the very existence of the samurai class was nearing its end, a ronin, unable to gain employment in a clan, came to pray at the graves of the forty-seven ronin in Sengakuji temple. Having finished praying he cut his belly in the act of seppuku and then dispatched himself by cutting his own throat. Such was the sanctity which is attached to the graves of the forty-seven
The graves of the ronin at Sengakuji
Finally, on completing this unworthy article, I have given, on behalf of To-ken members, the princely sum of Yen150 to Sengakuji in order that incense may be burned at the graves of the forty-seven.
Clive Sinclaire
Bexley
June 2010