Editing Forty-seven rōnin (section)

==Story==
For many years, the version of events retold by [[Bertram Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale|A. B. Mitford]] in ''[[Tales of Old Japan]]'' (1871) was generally considered authoritative. The sequence of events and the characters in this narrative were presented to a wide popular readership in the [[Western world|West]]. Mitford invited his readers to construe his story of the forty-seven rōnin as historically accurate; and while his version of the tale has long been considered a standard work, some of its details are now questioned.<ref name=smith1>[http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/chushinguranew/retelling/Mitford.htm#Analysis Analysis of Mitford's story] by [http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/ Dr. Henry Smith], [http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/chushinguranew/index.htm Chushinguranew website], Columbia University</ref> Nevertheless, even with plausible defects, Mitford's work remains a conventional starting point for further study.<ref name=smith1/>

Whether as a mere literary device or as a claim for ethnographic veracity, Mitford explains:
{{blockquote |In the midst of a nest of venerable trees in [[Takanawa]], a suburb of Yedo, is hidden Sengakuji, or the Spring-hill Temple, renowned throughout the length and breadth of the land for its cemetery, which contains the graves of the forty-seven rônin, famous in Japanese history, heroes of Japanese drama, ''the tale of whose deed I am about to transcribe''. | Mitford, A. B.<ref>(1871). ''Tales of Old Japan,'' pp. 5–6.</ref> [emphasis added]}}

Mitford appended what he explained were translations of Sengaku-ji documents the author had examined personally. These were proffered as "proofs" authenticating the factual basis of his story.<ref>Mitford, pp. 28–34.</ref> These documents were:
# ...the receipt given by the retainers of Kira Kōtsukē no Sukē's son in return for the head of their lord's father, which the priests restored to the family.<ref name="Mitford, p. 30">Mitford, p. 30.</ref>
# ...a document explanatory of their conduct, a copy of which was found on the person of each of the forty-seven men, dated in the 15th year of Genroku, 12th month.<ref>Mitford, p. 31.</ref>
# ...a paper which the Forty-seven Rōnin laid upon the tomb of their master, together with the head of Kira Kôtsuké no Suké.<ref>Mitford, p. 32.</ref>

===Background===
[[File:Kanadehon-Chushingura-Stage-3-Utagawa-Kuniteru.png|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Ukiyo-e]] print depicting Asano Naganori's assault on Kira Yoshinaka in the ''[[Matsu no Ōrōka]]'' of [[Edo Castle]]]]
[[File:Imperial Palace Tokyo Site of the Matsunoohroka Corridor 2.jpg|thumb|Memorial stone marking the site of the ''Matsu no Ōrōka'' (Great Corridor of Pines) in [[Edo Castle]], where Asano attacked Kira]]
In 1701, two ''daimyō'', Asano Takumi-no-Kami Naganori, the young ''daimyō'' of the [[Akō Domain]] (a small [[fiefdom]] in western [[Honshū]]), and Lord Kamei Korechika of the [[Tsuwano Domain]], were ordered to arrange a fitting reception for the envoys of [[Emperor Higashiyama]] at [[Edo Castle]], during their ''[[sankin-kōtai]]'' service to the ''[[shōgun]]''.<ref>Mitford, A. B. (1871). ''Tales of Old Japan'', p. 7.</ref>

Asano and Kamei were to be given instruction in the necessary court etiquette by Kira Kozuke-no-Suke Yoshinaka, a powerful official in the hierarchy of [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]]'s shogunate. He allegedly became upset at them, either because of the insufficient presents they offered him (in the time-honored compensation for such an instructor), or because they would not offer bribes as he wanted. Other sources say that he was naturally rude and arrogant or that he was corrupt, which offended Asano, a devoutly [[moral]] [[Confucianism|Confucian]]. By some accounts, it also appears that Asano may have been unfamiliar with the intricacies of the shogunate court and failed to show the proper amount of deference to Kira. Whether Kira treated them poorly, insulted them, or failed to prepare them for fulfilling specific ''bakufu'' duties,<ref>Mitford, p. 7.</ref> offence was taken.{{sfn|Titsingh|2006|p=91}}

Initially, Asano bore all this stoically, while Kamei became enraged and prepared to kill Kira to avenge the insults. However, Kamei's quick-thinking counselors averted disaster for their lord and clan (for all would have been punished if Kamei had killed Kira) by quietly giving Kira a large bribe; Kira thereupon began to treat Kamei nicely, which calmed Kamei.<ref>Mitford, pp. 8–10.</ref>

However, Kira allegedly continued to treat Asano harshly because he was upset that the latter had not emulated his companion. Finally, Kira insulted Asano, calling him a country boor with no manners, and Asano could restrain himself no longer. At the ''[[Matsu no Ōrōka]]'', the main grand corridor that interconnects the ''Shiro-[[shoin]]'' (白書院) and the ''Ōhiroma'' of the ''Honmaru Goten'' (本丸御殿) residence, Asano lost his temper and attacked Kira with a dagger, wounding him in the face with his first strike; his second missed and hit a pillar. Guards then quickly separated them.<ref>Mitford, pp. 10–11.</ref>

Kira's wound was hardly serious, but the attack on a shogunate official within the boundaries of the ''shōgun''{{'}}s residence was considered a grave offence. Any kind of violence, even the drawing of a [[katana]], was completely forbidden in Edo Castle.<ref>Mitford, pp. 11–12.</ref> The ''daimyō'' of Akō had removed his dagger from its scabbard within Edo Castle, and for that offence, he was ordered to kill himself by ''seppuku''.{{sfn|Titsingh|2006|p=91}} Asano's goods and lands were to be confiscated after his death, his family was to be ruined, and his retainers were to be made ''rōnin'' (leaderless).

This news was carried to [[Ōishi Yoshio|Ōishi Kuranosuke Yoshio]], Asano's principal counsellor (''[[karō]]''), who took command and moved the Asano family away before complying with ''bakufu'' orders to surrender the castle to the agents of the government.

===Attack===
[[File:NDL-DC 1312927-Tsukioka Yoshitoshi-皇国二十四功 大石内蔵之助-crd.jpg|thumb|[[Ukiyo-e]] showing [[Ōishi Yoshio|Ōishi]] signaling an attack by beating a drum. By [[Tsukioka Yoshitoshi]].]]
[[File:HokusaiChushingura.jpg|thumb|The ''rōnin'' attack the principal gate of Kira's mansion]]
After two years, when Ōishi was convinced that Kira was thoroughly off his guard,<ref>Mitford, p. 16.</ref> and everything was ready, he fled from Kyoto, avoiding the spies who were watching him, and the entire band gathered at a secret meeting place in Edo to renew their oaths.

The Ako Incident occurred on 31 January 1703 when the ''rōnin'' of Asano Naganori stormed the residence of Kira Yoshinaka in Edo. (While the attack was carried out on 31 January, the event is commemorated annually on 14 December in Japan.)<ref name=":0" /> According to a carefully laid-out plan, they split up into two groups and attacked, armed with swords and bows. One group, led by Ōishi, was to attack the front gate; the other, led by his son, Ōishi Chikara, was to attack the house via the back gate. A drum would sound the simultaneous attack, and a whistle would signal that Kira was dead.<ref>Mitford, pp. 16–17.</ref>

Once Kira was dead, they planned to cut off his head and lay it as an offering on their master's tomb. They would then turn themselves in and wait for their expected sentence of death.<ref>Mitford, p. 17</ref> All this had been confirmed at a final dinner, at which Ōishi had asked them to be careful and spare women, children, and other helpless people.<ref>Mitford, pp. 17–18.</ref>

Ōishi had four men scale the fence and enter the porter's lodge, capturing and tying up the guard there.<ref>Mitford, pp. 18–19.</ref> He then sent messengers to all the neighboring houses, to explain that they were not robbers but retainers out to avenge the death of their master, and that no harm would come to anyone else: the neighbors were all safe. One of the ''rōnin'' climbed to the roof and loudly announced to the neighbors that the matter was an act of revenge ([[Revenge#History|katakiuchi]], 敵討ち). The neighbors, who all hated Kira, were relieved and did nothing to hinder the raiders.<ref>Mitford, p. 19.</ref>

After posting archers (some on the roof) to prevent those in the house (who had not yet awakened) from sending for help, Ōishi sounded the drum to start the attack. Ten of Kira's retainers held off the party attacking the house from the front, but Ōishi Chikara's party broke into the back of the house.<ref>Mitford, pp. 19–20.</ref>

Kira, in terror, took refuge in a closet in the veranda, along with his wife and female servants. The rest of his retainers, who slept in barracks outside, attempted to come into the house to his rescue. After overcoming the defenders at the front of the house, the two parties led by father and son joined up and fought the retainers who came in. The latter, perceiving that they were losing, tried to send for help, but their messengers were killed by the archers posted to prevent that eventuality.<ref>Mitford, p. 20.</ref>

Eventually, after a fierce struggle, the last of Kira's retainers were subdued; in the process, the ''rōnin'' killed 16 of Kira's men and wounded 22, including his grandson. Of Kira, however, there was no sign. They searched the house, but all they found were crying women and children. They began to despair, but Ōishi checked Kira's bed, and it was still warm, so he knew he could not be far away.<ref>Mitford, p. 22.</ref>

===Death of Kira===
A renewed search disclosed an entrance to a secret courtyard hidden behind a large scroll; the courtyard held a small building for storing charcoal and firewood, where two hidden armed retainers were overcome and killed. A search of the building disclosed a man hiding; he attacked the searcher with a dagger, but the man was easily disarmed.<ref>Mitford, p. 23.</ref> He refused to say who he was, but the searchers felt sure it was Kira, and sounded the whistle. The ''rōnin'' gathered, and Ōishi, with a lantern, saw that it was indeed Kira—as a final proof, his head bore the scar from Asano's attack.<ref>Mitford, pp. 23–24.</ref>

Ōishi went on his knees, and in consideration of Kira's high rank, respectfully addressed him, telling him they were retainers of Asano, come to avenge him as true samurai should, and inviting Kira to die as a true samurai should, by killing himself. Ōishi indicated he personally would act as a ''[[kaishakunin]]'' ("second", the one who beheads a person committing seppuku to spare them the indignity of a lingering death) and offered him the same dagger that Asano had used to kill himself.<ref>Mitford, p. 24.</ref> However, no matter how much they entreated him, Kira crouched, speechless and trembling. At last, seeing it was useless to continue asking, Ōishi ordered the other ''rōnin'' to pin him down and killed him by cutting off his head with the dagger. They then extinguished all the lamps and fires in the house (lest any cause the house to catch fire and start a general fire that would harm the neighbors) and left, taking Kira's head.<ref>Mitford, pp. 24–25.</ref>

One of the ''rōnin'', the ''[[ashigaru]]'' Terasaka Kichiemon, was ordered to travel to Akō and report that their revenge had been completed. (Though Kichiemon's role as a messenger is the most widely accepted version of the story, other accounts have him running away before or after the battle, or being ordered to leave before the ''rōnin'' turned themselves in.)<ref>{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Henry D. II |year=2004 |title=The Trouble with Terasaka: The Forty-Seventh Ronin and the Chushingura Imagination |journal=Japan Review |pages=16:3–65 |url=http://202.231.40.34/jpub/pdf/jr/IJ1601.pdf |access-date=21 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102214721/http://202.231.40.34/jpub/pdf/jr/IJ1601.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Aftermath===
[[File:HiroshigeChushingura.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The ''rōnin'', on their way back to Sengaku-ji, are halted in the street, and invited in for rest and refreshment.]]
As day was breaking, they quickly carried Kira's head from his residence to their lord's grave in Sengaku-ji temple, marching about ten kilometers across the city, causing a great stir on the way. The story of the revenge spread quickly, and everyone on their path praised them and offered them refreshment.<ref>Mitford, pp. 25–26.</ref>

On arriving at the temple, the remaining 46 ''rōnin'' (all except Terasaka Kichiemon) washed and cleaned Kira's head in a well, and laid it, and the fateful dagger, before Asano's tomb. They then offered prayers at the temple and gave the abbot of the temple all of the money they had left, asking him to bury them decently and offer prayers and requiems for them. They then turned themselves in; the group was broken into four parts and put under guard of four different ''daimyō''.<ref>Mitford, pp. 26–27.</ref> During this time, two of Kira's friends came to collect his head for burial; the temple still has the original receipt for the head, which the friends and the priests who dealt with them had all signed.<ref name="Mitford, p. 30" />

The shogunate officials in Edo were in a quandary. The samurai had followed the precepts by avenging the death of their lord; but they had also defied the shogunate's authority by exacting revenge, which had been prohibited. In addition, the ''shōgun'' received a number of petitions from the admiring populace on behalf of the ''rōnin''. As expected, the ''rōnin'' were sentenced to death for the murder of Kira; but the ''shōgun'' finally resolved the quandary by ordering them to honorably commit ''seppuku'' instead of having them executed as criminals.<ref name="Mitford 28">Mitford, p. 28.</ref> Each of the assailants ended his life in a ritualistic fashion.{{sfn|Titsingh|2006|p=91}} Ōishi Chikara, the youngest, was only 15 years old on the day the raid took place, and only 16 the day he committed ''seppuku''.

Each of the 46 ''rōnin'' killed himself in {{nihongo|''Genroku'' 16, on the 4th day of the 2nd month|元禄十六年二月四日||20 March 1703}}.<ref name="Tsuchihashi conversion">{{Cite web|url=https://uni-tuebingen.de/geschichte-japans/nengo_calc.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014735/http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/geschichte-japans/nengo_calc.htm|url-status=dead|title=Tsuchihashi conversion|archivedate=30 September 2007}}</ref> This has caused a considerable amount of confusion ever since, with some people referring to the "forty-six rōnin"; this refers to the group put to death by the ''shōgun'', while the actual attack party numbered forty-seven. The forty-seventh ''rōnin'', identified as Terasaka Kichiemon, eventually returned from his mission and was pardoned by the ''shōgun'' (some say on account of his youth). He lived until the age of 87, dying around 1747, and was then buried with his comrades. The assailants who died by ''seppuku'' were subsequently interred on the grounds of Sengaku-ji,{{sfn|Titsingh|2006|p=91}} in front of the tomb of their master.<ref name="Mitford 28" /> The clothes and arms they wore are still preserved in the temple to this day, along with the drum and whistle; their armor was all home-made, as they had not wanted to arouse suspicion by purchasing any.

[[File:Sengakuji 47 ronin graves.jpg|thumb|Graves of the forty-seven rōnin at [[Sengaku-ji]]]]

The tombs at Sengaku-ji became a place of great veneration, and people flocked there to pray. The graves at the temple have been visited by a great many people throughout the years since the Genroku era.{{sfn|Titsingh|2006|p=91}}

===Members===
[[File:47 Ronin Gishi Portraits by Utagawa Yoshitora.png|thumb|300px|47 Ronin portraits by Utagawa Yoshitora]]
Below are the names of the 47 ''rōnin'' in the following form: family name – pseudonym (''[[kemyō]]'') – real name (''[[Japanese name|imina]]''). Alternative readings are listed in italics.
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
# [[Oishi Yoshio|Ōishi Kuranosuke Yoshio]]/''Yoshitaka'' ({{lang|ja|大石 内蔵助 良雄}})
# Ōishi Chikara Yoshikane ({{lang|ja|大石 主税 良金}})
# Hara Sōemon Mototoki ({{lang|ja|原 惣右衛門 元辰}})
# Kataoka Gengoemon Takafusa ({{lang|ja|片岡 源五右衛門 高房}})
# Horibe Yahei Kanamaru/''Akizane'' ({{lang|ja|堀部 弥兵衛 金丸}})
# [[Horibe Yasubee|Horibe Yasubei Taketsune]] ({{lang|ja|堀部 安兵衛 武庸}})
# Yoshida Chūzaemon Kanesuke ({{lang|ja|吉田 忠左衛門 兼亮}})
# Yoshida Sawaemon Kanesada ({{lang|ja|吉田 沢右衛門 兼貞}})
# Chikamatsu Kanroku Yukishige ({{lang|ja|近松 勘六 行重}})
# Mase Kyūdayū Masaaki ({{lang|ja|間瀬 久太夫 正明}})
# Mase Magokurō Masatoki ({{lang|ja|間瀬 孫九郎 正辰}})
# Akabane Genzō Shigekata ({{lang|ja|赤埴 源蔵 重賢}})
# Ushioda Matanojō Takanori ({{lang|ja|潮田 又之丞 高教}})
# Tominomori Sukeemon Masayori ({{lang|ja|富森 助右衛門 正因}})
# Fuwa Kazuemon Masatane ({{lang|ja|不破 数右衛門 正種}})
# Okano Kin'emon Kanehide ({{lang|ja|岡野 金右衛門 包秀}})
# Onodera Jūnai Hidekazu ({{lang|ja|小野寺 十内 秀和}})
# Onodera Kōemon Hidetomi ({{lang|ja|小野寺 幸右衛門 秀富}})
# Kimura Okaemon Sadayuki ({{lang|ja|木村 岡右衛門 貞行}})
# Okuda Magodayū Shigemori ({{lang|ja|奥田 孫太夫 重盛}})
# Okuda Sadaemon Yukitaka ({{lang|ja|奥田 貞右衛門 行高}})
# Hayami Tōzaemon Mitsutaka ({{lang|ja|早水 藤左衛門 満尭}})
# Yada Gorōemon Suketake ({{lang|ja|矢田 五郎右衛門 助武}})
# Ōishi Sezaemon Nobukiyo ({{lang|ja|大石 瀬左衛門 信清}})
# Isogai Jūrōzaemon Masahisa ({{lang|ja|礒貝 十郎左衛門 正久}})
# Hazama Kihei Mitsunobu ({{lang|ja|間 喜兵衛 光延}})
# Hazama Jūjirō Mitsuoki ({{lang|ja|間 十次郎 光興}})
# Hazama Shinrokurō Mitsukaze ({{lang|ja|間 新六郎 光風}})
# Nakamura Kansuke Masatoki ({{lang|ja|中村 勘助 正辰}})
# Senba Saburobei Mitsutada ({{lang|ja|千馬 三郎兵衛 光忠}})
# Sugaya Hannojō Masatoshi ({{lang|ja|菅谷 半之丞 政利}})
# Muramatsu Kihei Hidenao ({{lang|ja|村松 喜兵衛 秀直}})
# Muramatsu Sandayū Takanao ({{lang|ja|村松 三太夫 高直}})
# Kurahashi Densuke Takeyuki ({{lang|ja|倉橋 伝助 武幸}})
# Okajima Yasoemon Tsuneshige ({{lang|ja|岡島 八十右衛門 常樹}})
# Ōtaka Gengo Tadao/''Tadatake'' ({{lang|ja|大高 源五 忠雄}})
# Yatō Emoshichi Norikane ({{lang|ja|矢頭 右衛門七 教兼}})
# Katsuta Shinzaemon Taketaka ({{lang|ja|勝田 新左衛門 武尭}})
# [[Takebayashi Takashige|Takebayashi Tadashichi Takashige]] ({{lang|ja|武林 唯七 隆重}})
# Maebara Isuke Munefusa ({{lang|ja|前原 伊助 宗房}})
# Kaiga Yazaemon Tomonobu ({{lang|ja|貝賀 弥左衛門 友信}})
# Sugino Jūheiji Tsugifusa ({{lang|ja|杉野 十平次 次房}})
# Kanzaki Yogorō Noriyasu ({{lang|ja|神崎 与五郎 則休}})
# Mimura Jirōzaemon Kanetsune ({{lang|ja|三村 次郎左衛門 包常}})
# Yakokawa Kanbei Munetoshi ({{lang|ja|横川 勘平 宗利}})
# Kayano Wasuke Tsunenari ({{lang|ja|茅野 和助 常成}})
# Terasaka Kichiemon Nobuyuki ({{lang|ja|寺坂 吉右衛門 信行}})

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