Watching a movie about 47 ronin inspired me to write this text.
Actually, I became interested in history for a long time, thanks to the magazine "Around the World". It was because of this journal that I discovered the infamous Pine Corridor (Matsuno-o-roka) in the Japanese emperor's castle.
Generally speaking, if you get to this place, then you will not see anything very surprising. Indeed, a certain corridor of trees and a stone, saying that the events of the legend of the 47 ronin, known to every Japanese, and to many non-Japanese, took place here.
So what actually happened?
Only the lazy do not know that Japan is a country of warriors. In the Middle Ages, the vast majority of male peasants strove to get into the warriors, since this meant the opportunity to get at least some kind of livelihood. By the way, agriculture, i.e. the peasants of Japan for absolutely unthinkable periods of time, calculated in centuries, found themselves on the verge of life and death. Everything that was possible was squeezed out of them, they were starving, it was they who had the tradition of ubasute, when old people who did not have enough food were taken to the mountains and left there to die.
So, for a long time, becoming a warrior was almost the only way to escape from such a life. All other areas required prior training, and you had to pay for it. The peasants did not have such opportunities. Of course, you also had to pay for a warrior. But there was a chance to enter the service of someone, then the master was obliged to provide his guard with food, clothing, weapons and housing.
A ronin is a free warrior who is not in the service of anyone. Generally speaking, this was always a little shameful, because it meant that no one decided to mess with this warrior and he was essentially a beggar. But there was always the opportunity to go not to one gentleman, but to another and solve the problem.
Now let's move on to politics. The state here was formed in the 6th-7th centuries, although the Japanese themselves believe that it is much older. However, historians start counting from the 6th century (yes, there were other people before, the Ainu, the Jomon era, but I won’t talk about that). By the 9th-12th centuries, the state flourished and these 300-400 years fall on the Heian era, which can be compared with the ancient Greek golden age in Europe. The time of prosperity and development. Arts, crafts, poetry, language itself are emerging and rapidly developing throughout the country.
For various reasons, four main ruling clans stand out. Tachibana - the current emperors, Minamoto - their numerous offspring who do not have the right to claim the throne, Taira and Fujiwara. Fujiwara never directly found themselves in the emperors of Japan, but they constantly ruled it either in the era of the regency, or as chancellors, or in some other way.
"Taira Monogatari", the tale of the house of Taira, tells us about the sad battle between the house of Taira and Minomoto. The Tachibana had lost their influence by this point, and these two clans seized power. At first it was the Taira who won. Of the entire Minamoto clan, only one Yoritomo boy survived. But this boy was worth a lot. He relied on warriors, and not on aristocrats, and gathered a fairly strong army near him, and proclaimed himself its commander-in-chief - the shogun. Thus, the first Japanese shogunate was born.
Yoritomo managed to get revenge on the Taira. They died completely, like the Tachibana clan. Fujiwara did not enter into a direct struggle for the throne and simply went into the shadows. But the power of the first shogun did not last long. Small clan wars broke out in the country, it came to the division of the imperial court into two parts. Power, as in the whole world, began to pass from pure-blooded aristocrats to rich feudal lords - daimyo. They, too, just like it was all over the world, began to build powerful castles and fortifications, each started his own army and was ready to go beyond the castle only for war with neighbors.
To make it clear - the chaos lasted five centuries. For five centuries the country did not know a centralized authority...
In 1603, a real strong dictator and his clan, the Tokugawa, came to power. He defeated most of his opponents, managed to bring the resisters to their knees, rose to power and began to apply draconian measures to all the recalcitrant. Everyone who did not listen to the great shogun was simply executed, the property passed into the hands of the shogun. At best, the family of the executed person could retain the title and chances to start over. Especially if they supported Tokugawa. At worst, the title could also be lost.
To prevent the formation of new feudal armies, Tokugawa took two harsh measures. First, not a single aristocrat or warrior had the right to build a powerful castle or army. Power was determined by a simple criterion - the army of Tokugawa himself should have easily taken the castle on occasion. And if not, then everything was destroyed to zero according to the scheme described above. The second is a kind of serfdom. Now no one could just change their master. That is, if earlier you came to one, entered the service, and then, if you wanted, changed it, now it was impossible to do it.
Even if your master was killed, you could no longer find another for yourself.
This is, roughly speaking, the economic basis of the Bushido code (the way of the warrior). Agree that now the points about the fact that if you did not save your master, you covered yourself with shame look quite logical. Or that one must give one's life for a master, this is the most important person. The honor of the clan is higher ... well, etc. The situation was extremely simple - if the master is killed, then you either go back to the peasantry, and everyone perfectly imagined what that meant. Either ... or what? Ronin began to stray into packs of bandits and attack everyone in a row simply because they had to live on something.
However, they had only one way out - to ask for it personally to the shogun. The orders of the shogun were higher than the orders of the daimyo. And this was the logic of the shogunate, it was absolutely correct, but somewhat contradicted the previous five centuries of behavior. True, it was not so easy to turn directly to the shogun - he still had to be reached. And most likely, he would simply execute the extra ones, that's all. So robbery or village life - that's the whole choice. Do not forget that the village would also laugh at the losers, so by the Tokugawa era, becoming a ronin was a deep shame for any samurai warrior. It was worse than death.
By the way, there were two more ways - to become a monk and commit suicide - sepukku. But both of them were not the most frequent occurrence, no matter what the legends say. There were many more robbers.
I dwell on this in such detail because it will be all required for our story of the 47 Loyal Ronin.
By the way, so that it doesn’t seem to you that this is already a terribly terrible era, I will say that the second flowering of Japanese culture, the emergence of haiku and a new flowering of crafts and arts, falls on this time. The Edo period, he is. At this time, Basho worked, the legendary Rimpa school was founded, the ukiyo-e genre and the first geishas appeared, and mathematical and astronomical schools were founded. By the way, the Japanese independently reached the course of differential calculus at about the same time as Leibniz and Descartes, but did not find any interesting use for such a thing.
Having paid tribute to the general situation, we will return to the shogun's palace to the pine corridor.
During the Tokugawa era, there was a palace or castle that burned down during a series of fires in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, so that everything happened not under tree branches, but in one of the corridors of the palace.
On the 14th day of the third month of the Genroku era (March 14, 1701), the ritual of receiving the imperial embassy took place. On this day, a young daimyo, the head of the Ako clan named Asano Takumi no kami Naganori (he was 34 years old), who had land in Hyogo Prefecture (and then Harima Province), suddenly rushed with a naked short sword in his hands at the adviser Yoshinaka Kira (Kira Kozuke no Yoshinaka). Kira was the head of the protocol service under the shogun and came from a noble family of aristocrats.
Kira rushed to run, but the enraged Asano caught up with him and inflicted several blows with his blade on the head. For some reason, the experienced warrior did not kill the old adviser (he was 60 and for Japan it was a deep old age), all the wounds turned out to be shallow. However, maybe the fact is that the short sword of the wakizashi was inconvenient, and the katana was supposed to be left at the entrance. But I do not believe in this - nevertheless, daimyo were brought up to wield swords from early childhood and it is ridiculous to assume that it is inconvenient to do something with a short sword against an unarmed person.
There are so many versions of what happened that one could write a separate volume on them. Someone says that the reason was that the families of Kira and Asano owned salt mines and did not share something there. Someone says that Kira mocked Asano's provincial manners during the reception.
Another small digression. There has always been an emperor in Japan. He - according to legend - comes directly from the gods and any normal Japanese to this day prefers that the line of the emperor is not interrupted. Well, just in case, what if the truth is from the gods? :) At the same time, the emperor's power quite often turned out to be completely nominal. During the time of the Tokugawa shogunate, this was just such a case. Although formally the shogun ruled on behalf of the emperor, the emperor himself could not even lift a finger without a special person, the representative of the shogun at his court.
By the way, to this day, all actions of the Japanese imperial court must be coordinated with special administrators, who can greatly ruin the life of all members of the family. Even the mother of the current emperor could only talk to his father through notes that she openly submitted to advisers, and they decided whether to transfer them to the emperor, or the wife would manage.
So, traditions dictate that every year the emperor should be congratulated, so even the bakufu - the government of the shogun sent a delegation to the palace in Kyoto for the holidays. After that, the imperial ambassadors were to pay a return visit. Every step is regulated. Every move. To prevent anyone from confusing something, daimyo received special detailed instructions, deviation from which was unthinkable. And in 1701, the shogun (the fifth representative of the Tokugawa dynasty named Tsunayoshi) appointed Naganori Asano as the host. Kira was supposed to pass on the instructions, but chose not to, and bullied young Ako on every occasion. In the films, you can find scenes of requests from Ako and cruel refusals from Kira. In the end, Ako found himself in a stupid position and made mistake after mistake, which was punished by the shame of the family. Then it just exploded and...
Well, actually, everything is not quite right ... When Asano was very young, he, along with another young samurai, was sent to Edo to study martial arts. Entering the service, they had to bring offerings to the elders. And either in their provinces there were no funds, or the eternal contempt of the samurai for money affected, but only Kira Yoshinaka decided that they gave little. And he began to oppress both young people, until the family of the second gathered gifts and brought more. And Ako Asano rested on death and decided that he would not get anything else.
Kira continued to mock and once did so in the presence of the shogun. To forgive ridicule meant shame. Killing Kira in the chambers of the shogun meant death and also shame. There wasn't really a choice...
The shogun probably disliked Kira and sympathized with Ako, but the law was harsh and unambiguous. He allowed young Ako to make a sepukku and keep his honor. Cyrus was offered a voluntary resignation, which he was forced to accept.
The Ako clan was dissolved, all property transferred to the treasury.
They say that before his death, Ako Asano wrote the prescribed jisei - poems of death
Under a gust of spring wind
Flowers fall.
I'm even lighter
I say goodbye to life.
And yet - why?
The suicide ritual was also adjusted to ... before the Japanese ritual. Before suicide, it was supposed to meditate and prepare for the transition to a new rebirth. If someone could not, then the master of the tea ceremony was invited there - few people know that his duty also included preparation for the accomplishment of this ritual.
Then the samurai dressed in snow-white clothes (this is the color of death in Buddhism), read jisei, put down a sheet, picked up a wakizashi - a ritual short sword that even the guards did not dare to take away from the samurai, wrapped the blade with white paper (so that it would not be more convenient to hold , such a sword often did not have a handle), after which he had to plunge the blade into the stomach on the left. Next, the samurai had to draw the sword from left to right, cutting the insides, and then draw it vertically from the diaphragm to the navel.
Few could carry out the second movement. As soon as the body of a samurai committing ritual suicide leaned forward, the kaishakunin, an assistant, cut off his head with a wave of his sword and completed the ritual. As a rule, the best friends of the dying person were chosen for the role of kaishakunin (kaishaku).
Now fast forward to Harima, to Ako Castle. Everyone is told the news about the transfer of PROPERTY to the disposal of the shogun. The peasants also went to the shogun, and the warriors could do whatever they wanted. They became homeless vagrants and were free to do whatever they wanted. They couldn't find a new owner. This is on the one hand.
On the other hand, the Bushido code required them to avenge the murdered daimyō. The administrator of the lands, Ako Oishi Kuranosuke (Yoshio Oishi), offered the remaining warriors revenge on Kira.
To be honest, it was not the only solution. Asano had a younger brother alive, and he might well have become the new daimyō if the shogun had shown such mercy. The shogun may or may not have done it. But it was necessary to turn to him, and the Ako clan decided not to do this. Perhaps they thought that nothing would come of it, maybe they even thought correctly, now it is impossible to understand.
Of the 300 warriors of the Ako clan, 47 went to Edo for revenge. (Note that 253 people chose a very different solution.)
Kira was also not so stupid, he understood that the Ako clan could take revenge. Therefore, he moved to a mini-fortress, placed clan warriors everywhere, strengthened the security of the estate, personal protection, in general, it was impossible to get to him just like that even by the entire Ako clan.
The story of the 47 ronin, or "Ako's Revenge", is one of the most famous folk tales in Japan, which has now become popular all over the world.
"Ronin" in Japan was called samurai warriors who either lost the patronage of their overlord, or could not save him from death.
In accordance with Japanese traditions, the ronin was a figure of shame, ridiculed and humiliated. The status of the ronin was unenviable, since they did not receive a permanent salary from their masters, which, in turn, was a necessary condition for every true samurai. The ronin sought to re-enter the service, having found themselves a new patron. This did not always work out, and many remained in the status of ronin, often earning their livelihood by robbery. On the other hand, in Japanese lore there are stories of ronin by conviction - free warriors who stood up for the poor. Such stories echo the English legend of Robin Hood.
The plot of the 47 ronin is different. It is dedicated to the loyalty of warriors to their master, as well as the samurai "Code of Bushido".
This story takes place during the reign Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, also known as the "Dog Shogun".
He received his nickname for the decree "On the prohibition of the deprivation of life of living beings", which forbade, under pain of death, to kill stray dogs, cats and driven horses.
In 1701, daimyo (large feudal lord, sovereign prince of medieval Japan) Asano Takumi no Kami Naganori, or Asano Naganori from the city of Ako, was appointed to receive two imperial ambassadors at the shogun's palace.
Before the ceremony, Asano Naganori was to receive instructions from Kira Yoshinaka, an official who was a hereditary expert on rituals of the highest rank.
Kira Yoshinaka had the glory of a bribe-taker, and expected offerings from the daimyō. However, Asano Naganori did not make any gifts to the official.
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Source: Public Domain
Yoshinaka, who was about 60 years old, was extremely dissatisfied with the behavior of the prince. Without giving him any instructions, in addition, he spoke derogatoryly about the preparations that Naganori himself led.
The offended daimyo drew his sword and struck the offender several blows. The wounds of the ritual expert were non-fatal, and Asano Naganori was placed under arrest.
It was forbidden to draw a sword in the palace of the ruler under pain of death. The shogun sentenced the prince to death. True, given his title and position, he received an order to commit seppuku - ritual suicide by ripping open the stomach. In Europe, this ritual is better known as hara-kiri.
On the evening of the day when the verdict was passed, Asano Naganori committed seppuku.
Ambassadors were sent to the residence of the clan to which the prince belonged, who reported that the clan was disbanded, its possessions were confiscated, and all samurai were declared ronin.
Asano Naganori attacks Kira Yoshinaka. Source: Public Domain
The newly minted ronin gathered in council to decide what to do. Some suggested looking for a new master, others were ready to commit seppuku, and others were in favor of taking revenge on Kira Yoshinaka.
Kira, however, was an experienced courtier and knew that the avengers might appear. He moved into a fortified mansion, surrounding himself with warriors.
47 ronin led by Oishi Kuranosuke, adviser Asano Naganori, having sworn an oath to take revenge, dispersed in different directions. Someone became a merchant, someone a wandering doctor, someone a fencing teacher. Oishi himself moved to Kyoto, where he demonstratively indulged in drunkenness.
All this was to convince Kira Yoshinaka that he had nothing to fear. But the avengers vigilantly watched his house, waiting for the right moment.
I had to wait over a year and a half. The hour arrived on the 14th day of the 12th month of the 15th year of the Genroku era. Ronin, gathered in Edo (now Tokyo), pretended to be firefighters - the fireman's cloak hid weapons well. Fires at that time happened often, and the appearance of such a detachment did not arouse suspicion.
At dawn on the 15th day, the Avengers, divided into two groups, attacked the mansion of their enemy. One stormed the main gate, the second came from the rear. The plan was thought out to the smallest detail.
During the assault, 17 guards were killed, and more than 20 were injured. The Ronin escaped with minor injuries.
Ronin attack on Kira's manor. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Kira Yoshinaka took refuge in a coal storage room. His head was cut off, which was taken to the Sengakuji Monastery, where Asano Naganori was buried. The ronin laid the head of the slain enemy on the master's grave, showing that he had been avenged.
The youngest ronin, 16 years old Kichiemon Terasaka, by order Oishi Kuranosuke went to the widow of Asano Naganori to inform her of what had happened.
The rest of the ronin surrendered to the authorities.
The whole country learned about what happened, which was divided into those who considered the ronin heroes, and those who called them criminals. The shogun was puzzled too. The fact is that according to the Bushido Code, revenge for the murdered overlord for the samurai was a “giri” - a sacred duty that was subject to execution even at the cost of one’s own life.
Many in Japan felt that the ronin should be pardoned. On the other hand, it was a conspiracy, as a result of which a distinguished court official and his servants were killed.
The shogun decreed that all ronin must commit seppuku.
On the evening of the 4th day of the 2nd month of the 16th year of the Genroku era, 46 warriors performed their last samurai duty.
They were buried in the same monastery as their master.
Graves of 46 ronin.
The story of the 47 ronin, or "Ako's Revenge", is one of the most famous folk tales in Japan, which has now become popular all over the world. "Ronin" in Japan was called samurai warriors who either lost the patronage of their overlord, or could not save him from death.
In accordance with Japanese traditions, the ronin was a figure of shame, ridiculed and humiliated. The status of the ronin was unenviable, since they did not receive a permanent salary from their masters, which, in turn, was a necessary condition for every real samurai.
The ronin sought to re-enter the service, having found themselves a new patron. This did not always work out, and many remained in the status of ronin, often earning their livelihood by robbery. On the other hand, in Japanese legends there are stories about ronin by conviction - free warriors who stood up to protect the poor. Such stories echo the English legend of Robin Hood. The plot of the 47 ronin is different. It is dedicated to the loyalty of warriors to their master, as well as the samurai "Code of Bushido".
Quarrel in the palace of the "Dog Shogun"
This story takes place during the reign of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th Shogun of the Tokugawa Dynasty, also known as the "Dog Shogun". He received his nickname for the decree "On the prohibition of the deprivation of life of living beings", which forbade, under pain of death, to kill stray dogs, cats and driven horses.
In 1701, the daimyo (large feudal lord, sovereign prince of medieval Japan) Asano Takumi-no-Kami Naganori, or Asano Naganori from the city of Ako, was appointed to receive two imperial ambassadors to the shogun's palace.
Before the ceremony, Asano Naganori was supposed to receive instructions from Kira Yoshinaka, an official who was a hereditary expert in rituals of the highest rank. Kira Yoshinaka had the glory of a bribe-taker, and expected offerings from the daimyō. However, Asano Naganori did not make any gifts to the official.
Seppuku with property confiscation
Yoshinaka, who was about 60 years old, was extremely dissatisfied with the behavior of the prince. Without giving him any instructions, in addition, he spoke derogatoryly about the preparations that Naganori himself led.
The offended daimyo drew his sword and struck the offender several blows. The wounds of the ritual expert were non-fatal, and Asano Naganori was placed under arrest. It was forbidden to draw a sword in the palace of the ruler under pain of death. The shogun sentenced the prince to death. True, given his title and position, he received an order to commit seppuku - ritual suicide by ripping open the abdomen. In Europe, this ritual is better known as hara-kiri.
On the evening of the day when the verdict was passed, Asano Naganori committed seppuku. Ambassadors were sent to the residence of the clan to which the prince belonged, who reported that the clan was disbanded, its possessions were confiscated, and all samurai were declared ronin.
Oath of revenge
The newly minted ronin gathered in council to decide what to do. Some suggested looking for a new master, others were ready to commit seppuku, and others were in favor of taking revenge on Kira Yoshinaka. Kira, however, was an experienced courtier and knew that the avengers might appear. He moved into a fortified mansion, surrounding himself with warriors.
47 ronin led by Oishi Kuranosuke, adviser to Asano Naganori, having sworn an oath to take revenge, dispersed in different directions. Someone became a merchant, someone a wandering doctor, someone a fencing teacher. Oishi himself moved to Kyoto, where he demonstratively indulged in drunkenness.
All this was to convince Kira Yoshinaka that he had nothing to fear. But the avengers vigilantly watched his house, waiting for the right moment. I had to wait over a year and a half. The hour arrived on the 14th day of the 12th month of the 15th year of the Genroku era. Ronin, who gathered in Edo (now Tokyo), pretended to be firefighters - the fireman's cloak hid weapons well. Fires at that time happened often, and the appearance of such a detachment did not arouse suspicion.
Revenge
At dawn on the 15th day, the Avengers, divided into two groups, attacked the mansion of their enemy. One stormed the main gate, the second came from the rear. The plan was thought out to the smallest detail. During the assault, 17 guards were killed, and more than 20 were injured. The Ronin escaped with minor injuries.
Kira Yoshinaka took refuge in a coal storage room. His head was cut off, which was taken to the Sengakuji Monastery, where Asano Naganori was buried. The ronin laid the head of the slain enemy on the master's grave, showing that he had been avenged. The youngest ronin, 16-year-old Kichiemon Terasaka, on the orders of Oishi Kuranosuke, went to Asano's widow Naganori to inform her of what had happened. The rest of the ronin surrendered to the authorities.
The whole country learned about what happened, which was divided into those who considered the ronin heroes, and those who called them criminals. The shogun was puzzled too. The fact is that according to the Bushido Code, revenge for the murdered overlord for the samurai was a “giri” - a sacred duty that was subject to execution even at the cost of one’s own life.
Many in Japan felt that the ronin should be pardoned. On the other hand, it was a conspiracy, as a result of which a distinguished court official and his servants were killed. The shogun decreed that all ronin must commit seppuku.
On the evening of the 4th day of the 2nd month of the 16th year of the Genroku era, 46 warriors performed their last samurai duty. They were buried in the same monastery as their master.
Kichiemon Terasaka was pardoned by the shogun, lived a long life, living to the age of 78, and after his death was buried next to his comrades.
The debate about whether the story of the 47 ronin can be considered exploits, and not a crime, has not subsided in Japan for many generations. And yet, most Japanese consider it their duty to visit the graves in the Sengakuji temple in order to give respect to people who have shown the greatest loyalty to duty and honor.
No complete history of the samurai can be complete without the story of the 47 Ronin, which has enriched Japanese culture and has become famous throughout the world through numerous books, plays, comics and their adaptations. However, many of them, including the recently released film by Carl Rinsch, are very far removed from what actually happened.
"47 Ronin": a lesson in valor and honor
But first, let's explain the term itself: ronin is a samurai without a master. Perhaps this is where his Japanese name "wave man" comes from, because he was set free to swim at the behest of the waves. Ronin became for various reasons. Someone was "fired" by the owners for various misconduct, well, and someone was born a ronin.
There were also those about whom the latest adaptation of the story of the 47 ronin tells about - devoted servants who took on a risky venture. In order not to cast a shadow on the good name of the former master and his clan, they voluntarily became ronin. The largest number of ronin occurred during the period of the Tokugawa shogunate or Edo bakufu (1600-1868).
At the very top of the hierarchy was shogun(originally a military rank, which later became the title of the military rulers of Japan), followed by his subjects, military feudal lords - daimyo. Their power was supported by a numerous privileged class of samurai. At the bottom of the stairs were peasants, townspeople, merchants and pariahs. Any movement between classes was almost impossible.
In 1651, after the death of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, his son Ietsuna came to power. During his reign, outwardly practically invisible, but extremely important changes for the social structure of the country took place. For almost half a century of peaceful existence, the military class of the country has undergone significant changes. Samurai became government officials, townspeople or peasants. During the Genroku period (1688-1704), which is considered the golden age of Japan, the brightest examples of samurai culture appeared. At this time, the classical military instructions "Budo Shoshin Shu" and "Hagakure" were created, numerous schools of martial arts reached an unprecedented flourishing.
During the reign of the capricious fifth shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646-1709), an edict was issued prohibiting the cruel treatment and killing of all living creatures: from horses, dogs and cats to mosquitoes. However, people who violated this order were clearly not recognized as living beings and were executed.
"Daimio ( daimyo - territorial sovereign princes of medieval Japan. —Ed.) Azano Naganori during an audience in the imperial palace was insulted by the courtier Kira Yoshihide and drew a sword against him. For this offense against the strict court etiquette, he was sentenced to death and had to take his own life. To avenge his death, 47 samurai voluntarily left the warrior caste, that is, they became a rejected wandering people ( ronin) and prepared for two full years to find their enemy. Finally, in December 1702, they came to Yoshihide at the castle, defeated the guards of the castle and killed the offender of their master, on whose grave they laid the head of the murdered. After that, they all committed suicide. Even now, on the day of commemoration of the dead, their graves are decorated with flowers as a monument of unshakable fidelity, ”is written in the book The Historical Development of Japan, published in St. Petersburg in 1905, written by H. Vandenberg.
Let us add that Kira Yoshinaka was a hereditary expert on rituals of the highest rank and had to lead Asano along with others to the ceremony. To lull the vigilance of their victim, 47 ronin, led by Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshio, pretended to indulge in drunkenness and rushed into all serious. They should not have been touched by a shadow of suspicion. Meanwhile, the conspirators were preparing to carry out a plan of revenge for their master.
Here is how this story is described by Hiroaki Sato: “On the night of the fourteenth day of the twelfth month, or to be more precise, before the dawn of the fifteenth year of Genroku (1702), forty-seven samurai broke into the house of Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka in Edo and killed the owner and many of his servants They immediately informed the authorities about their act, presenting a list of participants in the attack, and explained the reason: they killed Kira in order to avenge their master Asano Takuminokami Naganori. "
So, on December 14, 1702, 47 ronin broke into the castle of a 61-year-old courtier who bore titles kozukenosuke("Governor Kozuke") and "Junior Captain of the Left Wing of the Inner Palace Guard". This act was supposed to demonstrate the loyalty of the samurai to the young 35-year-old daimio Naganori and adherence to the military code of honor of bushido behavior.
The then authorities had to solve a difficult dilemma: reward the ronin for the fact that they, more than anyone else over the past century, fulfilled their duty and behaved like true samurai, or punish them for murder. The law prevailed. Asano's brother Daigaku, the shogun's adjutant, was placed under house arrest and Asano Castle in Ako, Harima Province was confiscated.
50 days after the assassination, the 46 remaining ronin after the attack on Yoshihide's house (one allegedly died during the assault) were ordered to commit seppuku(commit suicide). "About what happened to the forty-seventh, Terasaka Kichiemon, there are still very different opinions. Some believe that he got scared and fled before the warriors broke into the Kira house, others that he received special instructions from the manager Oishi and left the detachment after the act of revenge was committed. We follow,” writes Hiroaki Sato, “the more common version, according to which there were forty-seven samurai.”
"At that time there was a judicial order known as kenka ryoseibai: Both sides were found guilty of the collision. At least for this reason, the decision of the authorities in the case of Asano and Kira looked unfair, says Hiroaki Sato. - This impression was strengthened by the fact that Kira was known as a greedy bribe-taker and extortionist, who without a shadow of embarrassment used his knowledge and position. A few years earlier, another daimyō of the same rank as Asano had seriously intended to kill him."
The government's decision caused outrage in Japan. 12 days after the mass act of seppuku, the first theatrical performance appeared on the stage, telling about this event.
On this occasion, the 65-year-old British academic and specialist in the military history of the Far East, Stephen Turnbull, spoke quite clearly, who, in particular, advised the blockbuster just released on the screen with Keanu Reeves in the title role: " It is doubtful whether the 47 ronin have done anything for modern Japan other than providing the plot for countless plays and stories, showing the world how primitive and backward Japan can be at times." At the same time, the historian does not unfoundedly criticize, but in his well-known work "Samurai. Military history" (The Samurai. A military history) mentions positive examples of following the bushido code and the model of samurai behavior.
However, in this matter, the respected Academician Turnbull is still a little mistaken. The story of the vengeance of the Ako ronin was the first event in Japan that, as they would say today, caused a "wide public outcry." More than a year after 46 brave warriors committed seppuku, the very inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun: scientists, poets, samurai, swordsmen, and even peasants and merchants, discussed this event, speaking both in support of the heroes and condemning their behavior. Those who mastered the art of writing wrote treatises, brochures, letters, and even notes to local newspapers (they were already being published in Japan at that time), in which they expressed their point of view on this story.
The reason for the discussion was not so much the history of revenge itself, but the paradox of the situation: in passing sentence on the ronin, the government of the shogun, as it were, condemned the ideology that had previously been actively planted in Japanese society, that is, it went against itself. The fact is that such a rule of bushido, as the loyalty of a vassal to his master, became widespread only from the beginning of the peaceful era of Edo bakufu. During the internecine wars of the Sengoku jidai that preceded it, such fidelity was the exception rather than the rule.
Then the samurai, for the most part, calmly betrayed their masters (in general, two-thirds of the great battles of this period were won thanks to betrayal), moved from one daimyo to another, tempted by a higher pay - in a word, they behaved in much the same way as European landsknecht mercenaries the same time. There was nothing surprising in this, because in the war everyone cares first of all about how to survive. However, when the war ended, the authorities needed to invent something that could keep in check a huge number of professional thugs for whom war was the main meaning of life and whose loyalty to the government could disappear at any moment. Thus, many provisions of the bushido code were born, including that which obliged the samurai to be faithful to his master.
In fact, all 47 ronin were representatives of the same generation of samurai who were born already in peacetime and learned the provisions of bushido from a very early age - for them it was the only ideology. It should not be surprising that they did exactly as this code ordered. However, the authorities considered their act a crime, thereby putting themselves in a very awkward position. This is exactly what the authors of the treatises pointed out, who sang the feat of 47 brave men. Their opponents objected to them, finding various small details in the act of the ronins, which, in their opinion, cast a shadow on the whole history of revenge and testified that the ronins did it only for their own benefit (and if so, then the punishment was fair).
Today we will talk about one of the most famous legends of the Land of the Rising Sun, namely the story "Forty-seven Ronin from Ako". Tradition tells of 47 vassals who gave their lives for the honor of their master. It should be noted that there are many misconceptions and omissions about this. This article will shed light on some of them.
Early 18th century above the castle Ako, provinces Harima, ruled by a great daimyo named Asano Takumi no Kami(in some sources Asano Naganori). One day one of the courtiers mikado was sent to shogunTokugawa Tsunayoshi in town edo . Takumi no Kami and no less eminent Kamei Sama were appointed to receive a distinguished guest, and also to arrange a great feast in honor of his arrival. A gifted official Kotsuke no Suke appointed to teach the gentlemen the etiquette prescribed on such occasions.
Both noble gentlemen visited the castle every day Shiro to listen to instructions Kotsuke no Suke. The latter was a very greedy man and expected great rewards from the great daimyo. But instead, he received the standard reward for his efforts, as prescribed by ancient tradition. And after that Kotsuke no Suke held a grudge against the masters and refused to continue his studies. He also did not miss the opportunity to ridicule them at court.
*Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (徳川 綱吉; February 23, 1646 (Year of the Dog) - February 19, 1709) - the 5th shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, the feudal ruler of Japan, who led the country from 1680 to 1709. Also known as the Dog Shogun.
*Mikado (帝(御門), "high gate") is an ancient, now obsolete title for the secular supreme overlord of Japan, currently called tennō (son of heaven). The term meant not only the monarch himself, but his house, court and even the state. The native Japanese do not use this term - it has been excluded from official documents.
*Edo (江戸) - old name Tokyo, the modern capital of Japan, until 1868. This is the name of the old central part of the city near Edo Castle. During the entire Edo period (1603-1867), the city played the role of the political and administrative center of Japan, although it was not the capital of the country, the role of which was played by Kyoto at that time. The city was the residence Tokugawa shogunate who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868.
Takumi no Kami, restrained by a sense of duty, patiently endured all the antics and ridicule addressed to him. But Kamei Sama was less restrained, and after another trick fell into a rage and decided to kill the mocker. And on the very first night, after the end of his service, he called his advisers to a meeting. He told them that Kotsue no Suke him and Takumi no Kami when they performed their duty and served in the presence of the imperial ambassador. He declared that he could not put up with such a gross violation of decorum. He tried to destroy him on the spot, but remembered that this would bring great dishonor to his family and cost him and his vassals their lives. He decided to settle accounts with his enemy the next day at court. After the meeting, one of his faithful servants asked for an audience. He was a very perspicacious man and reminded his master of the consequences of such a decision. But Kamei already set for revenge. Then the servant asked for forgiveness and left.
But the servant understood that such an outcome of events would not bring anything good. He thought about his plan of action for a long time and finally decided that Kotsuke no Suke very greedy person and can be bribed. He collected all available money and personally came to the palace Kotsuke no Suke. Meeting with vassals Kotsuke no Suke , he gave them the gold and asked them to convey sincere apologies from Kamei Sama. It is known that he collected about a thousand silver coins. Also, the adviser allocated about a hundred coins for the servants Kotsuke no Suke so that they perform at their best. When the servants saw the money, their eyes shone with happiness and they hurried to their master. Kotsuke no Suke was so delighted that he himself personally received an adviser Kamei Sama and assured that on this they disagreements completed and that the next day he will be polite and give special instructions Kamei Sama.
Kamei Sama with gloomy determination came to the palace in order to get rid of his enemy forever. But unlike the previous day, today, Kotsuke no Suke was extremely accommodating. His reverence is a tall tale. He lavished compliments and asked forgiveness for his shamelessness. Kamei thawed herself and gave up the intention to kill Kotsuke no Suke.
But wasting compliments Kotsuke no Suke did not forget to insult and humiliate in every possible way Takumi no Kame. He patiently endured all the insults and paid no attention to them. This behavior pissed Kotsuke no Suke and he finally said arrogantly: "Hey, sir Takumi tie on my tabi
untied, take the trouble to tie it for me." Beside myself with rage, Takumi no Kami obeyed and tied a tabi tie.
*Tabi (足袋) are traditional Japanese socks. Ankle-height and separated thumb; they are worn by both men and women with zori, geta, and other traditional strapped shoes. Tabi are just as important when wearing traditional kimonos and other types of wafuku, including those worn by samurai in the Middle Ages. The most common color is white, and white tabi is worn in formal situations such as the tea ceremony.
Then Kotsuke no Suke , turning away from him, irritatedly quipped: "Oh, you are so clumsy! You don't even know how to tie tabi strings properly! Looking at you, everyone will say: here is a real hillbilly who has no idea about metropolitan manners and decency." This statement made others laugh and himself Kotsuke no Suke burst into an insulting laugh. Then he slowly made his way to his quarters. But Takumi no Kami was furious. He ran to Kotsuke no Suke and drew his dagger as he turned around. Takumi aimed his punch straight at the head, but the head Kotsuke no Suke protected by the high cap of a courtier.
And he escaped with only a slight scratch. Kotsuke no Suke abruptly came to his senses and began to flee. But Takumi caught up with him and delivered another blow. But he missed and stuck the dagger into a wooden post. At this very moment, the elder samurai, named Kajikawa Yoshobei rushed to help Kotsuke no Suke and seized the enraged Takumi behind. Kotsuke no Suke escaped safely.
To be continued...
