The Legend of The Forty-seven Ronin

追加: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]Good evening.

[00:00:02]This is where I usually do fireside fairy tales, except um it's too hot.

[00:00:09]I've I've said this elsewhere, but it doesn't get hot often in England, but when it does, who boy. And I know I know people from warm places will say things like, "Oh, you know, you guys are such wimps. How you know, you can handle a little heat." And okay, if you just look at the temperature, right? So, by mid-afternoon today, it was 87° F. I still don't exactly know what that is in Celsius despite having lived here 5 years, but it's above 30. So, the thing that you might miss though is that it was also 45% humidity and every single building is a brick oven with no air conditioning. So, when it gets hot, boy, does it get hot. So, what you're getting instead is a poolside fairy tale. And I hope that I hope that works for all of you.

[00:00:59]Anyway, the story that I'm sharing with you tonight is the first version of the tale of the 47 Ronin. And this is from Japan. But this is the first version that was ever presented to the West. And so it had a huge influence in terms of how people understood this story and how they experienced it for the first time.

[00:01:19]And from my very brief, unprofessional research of it, it it seems like a reasonably good telling and one that coincided with retellings that I found from native Japanese tellers on different channels and and in different publications. So, this one was written by Algeron Bertram Freeman Mittford, Lord Reeddale, which is a name so British I feel like I shouldn't have pronounced it without having a cup of tea in my hand. And he was a diplomat who went to Japan after it was opened somewhat for well not somewhat it was forcibly opened in 1854. Before that, Japan had been closed to the world for over 200 years. And so there was this hunger for information about this place, like who are these people? We can finally talk to them. We can finally learn their stories and who they are.

[00:02:13]And he published a book called Tales of Old Japan in 1871.

[00:02:19]And uh this is the very first story that he put in that book. And I do think that's interesting because he must have realized how important it is. And from what I understand, this is still a tale that today in Japan is much beloved and much revered. So once again, I'll say please uh know that I'm sharing this story in a in a good spirit and to educate myself. And I wanted to start with this one because this was the first way this story connected with the West.

[00:02:47]And then I think what would be interesting to do after that is maybe to try for my own research find some more modern translations that were done by someone who's a native speaker of Japanese, more immersed in the culture, things like that. Uh, a thing that I should mention ahead of time is that you won't see the spellings obviously as I'm reading it. Um, but they'll they'll come up in the captions later as I do those.

[00:03:10]Spellings for Japanese words in English hadn't been regularized at all by this point. So, like the name Edeto, which is the old name of modern day Tokyo, is actually interesting. It's a it's spelled ye d o, but that was just how they decided to render it. And then there's other things where it's just spelled a little different. Like I think um today there's some words that would use a Z and then in this one they're using a ts to represent that sound. And that's just one of the decisions that you have to make. Um, but yeah, and then the names of the characters in this, what I realized in reading this and then trying to brush up on the history is that a lot of the characters in this story will have multiple names or titles that they'll go by. And that makes sense because that that also happens in other cultures where you'll have someone who maybe they have their given name and then maybe they have a name from nobility and then maybe they have a name that's related to their function in the court. So, I'm reading this as it's written. And so, if you're already familiar with that tale and you go, "Huh, I wonder why it's that name."

[00:04:15]Well, that's just the one that was in this version of the story. I'm skipping over a little bit of the intro. But he gives this beautiful, beautiful way to ease into the story.

[00:04:28]I beg my readers to fancy themselves wafted away to the shores of the Bay of Yedo. A fair smiling landscape. Gentle slopes crested by a dark fringe of pines and furs lead down to the sea. The quaint eaves of many a temple and holy shrine peep out here and there from the groves. The bay itself is studded with picturesque fixture craft, the torches of which shine by night like glowworms among the outlying forts. Far away to the west loom the goblin haunted heights of Oyama. And beyond the twin hills of Hakone Pass, Fujiyama, the peerless mountain, solitary and grand, stands in the center of the plane from which it sprang vomiting flames 21 centuries ago.

[00:05:19]For 160 years, the huge mountain has been at peace, but the frequent earthquakes still tell of hidden fires.

[00:05:27]And none can say when the red hot stones and ashes may once more fall like rain over five provinces.

[00:05:36]In the midst of a nest of venerable trees in Takanawa, a suburb of Yedo is hidden Senakuchi or the Spring Hill Temple renowned throughout the length and breadth of the land for its cemetery which contains the graves of the 47 Ronins. famous in Japanese history, heroes of Japanese drama, the tale of whose deeds I am about to transcribe.

[00:06:03]On the left hand side of the main court of the temple is a chapel in which surmounted by a guilt figure of Quanin, the goddess of mercy, are enshrined the images of the 47 men and of the master whom they loved so well. The statues are carved in wood, the faces colored, and the dresses richly lacquered. As works of art, they have great merit. The action of the heroes, each armed with his favorite weapon, being wonderfully lielike and spirited. Some are venerable men with thin gray hair. Some one is 77 years old. Others are mere boys of 16. Close by the chapel, at the side of a path leading up the hill, is a little well of pure water fenced in and adorned with a tiny fernery over which is an inscription setting forth that this is the well in which the head was washed. You must not wash your hands or feet there.

[00:07:08]A little further on is a stall at which a poor old man earns a pittance by selling books, pictures, and medals commemorating the loyalty of the 47. And higher up yet, shaded by a grove of stately trees, is a neat enclosure kept up, as a sign board announces, by voluntary contributions around which arranged 48 little tombstones, each decked with evergreens, each with its tribute of water and incense for the comfort of the departed spirit.

[00:07:43]There were 47 ronins. There are 48 tombstones. And the story of the 48th is truly characteristic of Japanese ideas of honor.

[00:07:55]Almost touching the rail of the graveyard is a more imposing monument under which lies buried the Lord whose death his followers piously avenged.

[00:08:07]What a prologue. I've never been there and obviously I wasn't there in 1871, but you really get a picture for this place. He's painted such a picture and uh if you're familiar with the Japanese language at all, you'll know that ronin could be uh both singular or plural. In this version, he's said Ronin's, which probably will make somebody's eyes twitch, but I I agree with that decision as a translator. Remember, this is the first time this story is being brought to the west. And so, it might make sense to not throw anything at the reader that's too far out of their understanding because if he just said Ronin, it might confuse English speakers who would expect that to be a singular.

[00:08:49]So, you know, today more people might be familiar with how the Japanese language works and how loan words into English can sometimes retain that. You know, it'll just be ronin. We would say the 47 ronin. don't say the 47 ronins anymore, but we've had time to learn. And so I think that it's good when one culture is learning about another. We give each other a little bit of grace as we're getting accustomed to how things are done differently. And then he puts in this beautiful line.

[00:09:19]And now for the story. And before we get started, yes, I've got a comment here that says 16 to 70. That's a crazy age range. It is. It is. That's the wild thing is this happened in 1701 so we know it happened. It's actually quite a well doumented thing in terms of usually when you have a folk tale you know you go well who knows if it happened or you know it's just fantastic and made up.

[00:09:42]This really happened. I'm sure that there's been some embellishments here and there in some of the tellings but for the most part this is a true story.

[00:09:52]And that's why I think it's exciting.

[00:09:53]That's also why I consider this a story worthy of being told to children because one of the characters and he plays a major part is only 16. And I think that it's useful to talk to children about a story like this. You know, what is honor worth to you? How far would you go for the sake of honor? What would you do to keep promise? And you know these days, well, grown-ups have always been hard on kids. Kids these days are too soft. Kids these days don't have a work ethic. I mean, it's true. [laughter] Most of us grow up and learn to work at some point. But I think that the messages in this story are well worth discussing with children. Maybe not younger children. It gets a little little violent, but um yeah, there's children in this story and there's definitely themes that children should cover in the story. And so now here's what's actually written. And now for the story.

[00:10:53]At the beginning of the 18th century, there lived a daimo called Asano Takumi Nokami, the lord of the castle of Ako in the province of Harima. Now, it happened that an imperial ambassador from the court of the Mikado, having been sent to the shogun at Yedo, Takumi Nokami and another noble called Kame Sama were appointed to receive and feast the envoy. and a high official named Kira Kotsuk Nosuk was named to teach them the proper ceremonies to be observed upon the occasion. The two nobles were accordingly forced to go to go daily to the castle to listen to the instructions of Kotsuk Nosuk. But this Kotsuk Nosuk was a man greedy of money. And as he deemed that the presents which the two daimos, according to timehonored custom, had brought him in return for his instruction were mean and unworthy, he conceived a great hatred against them and took no pains in teaching them, but on the contrary rather sought to make laughings stocks of them.

[00:12:02]Very cruel. Very cruel. his job. He's supposed to be teaching these guys how to do their ceremonial functions, but they didn't bribe him enough or or fawn over him enough, so he's not going to teach them their proper duties.

[00:12:14]Takumi Nokami, restrained by a stern sense of duty, bore his insults with patience. But Kame sama, who had less control over his temper, was violently incensed and determined to kill Kotsuk No. One night when his duties at the castle were ended, Kame sama returned to his own palace and having summoned his counselors to a secret conference, said to them, "Kotsuk Nosuk has insulted Takumi noami and myself during our service in attendance on the imperial envoy. This is against all decency, and I was minded to kill him on the spot.

[00:12:53]But I be thought to me that if I did such a deed within the precincts of the castle, not only would my own life be forfeit, but my family and vassels would be ruined. So I stayed my hand. Still the life of such a wretches a sorrow to the people, and tomorrow when I go to the court, I will slay him. My mind is made up, and I will listen to no remmonstrance." And as he spoke, his face became livid with rage. Now, one of Kame sama's counselors was a man of great judgment. And when he saw his lord's manner that remmonstrants would be useless, he said, "Your lordship's words are law. Your servant will make all preparations accordingly, and tomorrow, when your lordship goes to court, if this Kotsuki Nosuk should again be insolent, let him die the death." And his lord was pleased at this speech and waited with impatience for the day to break that he might return to court and kill his enemy. But the counselor went home and was sorely troubled and thought anxiously about what his prince had said. And as he reflected, it occurred to him that since Kotsuk nosuk had the reputation of being a miser, he would certainly be open to a bribe, and that it was better to pay any sum, no matter how great, than that his lord and his house should be ruined.

[00:14:15]So he collected all the money he could and giving it to his servants to carry, rode off in the night to Kotuk Nosuk's palace and said to his retainers, "My master, who is now in attendance upon the imperial envoy, owes many thanks to my lord Kotsuk Nosuk, who has been at so great pains to teach him the proper ceremonies to be observed during the reception of the imperial envoy. This is but a shabby present which he has sent by me. But he hopes that his lordship will be condescended to accept it and commends himself to his lordship's favor. And with these words, he produced a,000 ounces of silver for Kotuk no and 100 ounces to be distributed among his retainers.

[00:15:03]Sounds like a pretty good bribe to me.

[00:15:05]When the latter saw the money, their eyes sparkled with pleasure, and they were profuse in their thanks, and begging the counselor to wait a little, they went and told their master of the lordly present which had arrived with a polite message from Kame sama. Kotuk Nosuk in eager delight sent for the counselor in an inner chamber, and after thanking him, promised on the marorrow to instruct his master carefully in all the different points of etiquette. So the counselor, seeing the miser's glee, rejoiced at the success of his plan, and having taken his leave, returned home in high spirits.

[00:15:45]But Kame sama, little thinking how his vassel had propitiated his enemy, lay brooding over his vengeance, and on the following morning at daybreak, went to the court in solemn procession.

[00:15:59]When Kotsuk Nosuk met him, his manner had completely changed, and nothing could exceed his courtesy. "You have come early to court this morning, my lord Kame," said he. "I cannot sufficiently admire your zeal. I shall have the honor to call your attention to several points of etiquette today. I must beg your lordship to excuse my previous conduct, which must have seemed very rude, but I am naturally of a cross grain disposition, so I pray you forgive me." And as he kept on humbling himself and making fair speeches, the heart of Kame sama was gradually softened, and he renounced his intention of killing him.

[00:16:45]Well, sounds like things might be better, you think?

[00:16:49]Thus, by the cleverness of his counselor was Kame Sama with all his house saved from ruin.

[00:16:57]Shortly after this, Takumi no Takumi Nokami who had sent no present arrived at the castle and Kotuk Nosuk turned him into ridicule even more than before, provoking him with snears and covert insults. But Takumi Nokami effected to ignore all this and submitted himself patiently to Kotuk Nosuk's orders. This conduct so far from producing a good effect only made Kotsuki Nosuk despise him the more until at last he said hottilty, "Here, my lord of Takumi, the ribbon of my sock has come untied. Be so good as to tie it up for me." Takumi Nokami, although burning with rage at the affront, still thought that as he was on duty, he was bound to obey and tied up the ribbon of the sock. Then Kotuk Nosuk, turning from him, petulently expla exclaimed, "Why, how clumsy you are. You cannot so much as tie up the ribbon of a sock properly.

[00:18:00]Anyone can see that you are a boar from the country and know nothing of the manners of Yedo." And with a scornful laugh, he moved towards an inner room.

[00:18:13][laughter] As as it chat says, hottie.

[00:18:16]Woo. He is very hottie, isn't he? This guy's really, really full of himself.

[00:18:20]And he he demands presents and bribes just to do his job. So, not a good guy.

[00:18:28]But the patience of Takumi Nokami was exhausted. This last insult was more than he could bear. "Stop a moment, my lord," cried he. "Well, what is it?"

[00:18:43]replied the other. And as he turned round, Takumi Nokami drew his derk and aimed a blow at his head. But Kotsuk Nosuk, being protected by the court cap, which he wore, the wound was but a scratch, so he ran away. and Tokumi Nokami pursuing him tried a second time to cut him down but missing his aim struck his durk into a pillar. Um I'm trying to remember the word. So the word dirk has been used because again this is being written for probably primarily a British audience and a dirk would be a short dagger. So I think it's is it washi kazi? I should have written it down. I I looked it up but I I believe that this is referring to the shorter sword that samurai would carry with them. They always had their their longer swords. what in the west people call a a samurai sword or a katana, but then they would also have their shorter sword, which correct me if I'm wrong, happy to be corrected, I believe is a wiki.

[00:19:39]At this moment, an officer named Kajikawa Yos, seeing the afolding back the infuriated noble, gave Kotsuk Nosuk time to make good his escape. Then there arose a great uproar in confusion and Takumi noami was arrested and disarmed and confined in one of the apartments of the palace under the care of the sensors. A council was held and the prisoner was given over to the safeguard of a daimo called Tamura Ukio who kept him in close custody in his own house to the great grief of his wife and his retainers. And when the deliberations of the council were completed, it was decided that as he had committed an outrage and attacked another man within the precincts of the palace, he must perform harakiri, that is commit suicide by disembowing. His goods must be confiscated and his family ruined.

[00:20:37]uh just to mention the word so they it uses the word harakiri which is um again I'm very happy to be corrected and I'm this is my my own research this has been really fun for me to learn so harakiri refers to the act of cutting but it's it's a less formal word and then um the word sapuku refers more to the ritual aspect of it the more formal structured aspect but you can you can use the words interchangeably more or less although I expect there's a lot of nuance in how the words are used especially in translation but harakiri is what's used in this text noami performed harakiri his castle of ao was confiscated and his retainers having become ronins some of them took service with other daimos and others became merchants now amongst these retainers was his principal counselor a man called Oishi Kuranosuk who with 46 other faithful dependents formed a league to avenge their master's death by killing Kotsuk Nosuk.

[00:21:48]You see the word Ronin in there which means a samurai who is not bound to a master or a masterless samurai, a wanderer.

[00:21:57]This Oishi Kuranosuk was absent at the castle of Ako at the time of the array, which had he been with his prince would never have occurred. For being a wise man, he would not have failed to propate Kotsuk nosuk by sending him suitable presents. While the counselor who was in attendance on the prince at Yedo was a dollar, who neglected this precaution and so caused the death of his master and the ruin of his house. It's an interesting judgment that he blamed the retainer for failing to present the l prevent the lord from giving in to his worst instincts.

[00:22:34]So Oishi Kuranosuk and his 46 companions began to lay their plans of vengeance against Kosuk Nosuk. But the latter was so well guarded by a body of men lent to him by a daimo called UI sama whose daughter he had married that they saw the only way of attaining their end would be to throw their enemy off his guard. With this object they separated and disguised themselves. Some as carpenters or craftsmen, others as merchants. and their chief Kuranosuk went to Kyoto and built a house in the quarter called Yamashima or Yamasha where he took to frequenting houses of the worst repute and gave himself up to drunkenness and debauchery as if nothing were further from his mind than revenge.

[00:23:26]Kotuku Nosuk, in the meantime, suspecting that Takumi Nokami's former retainers would be scheming against his life, secretly sent spies to Kyoto and caused a faithful account to be kept of all that Kuranosuk did.

[00:23:45]The latter, however, determined thoroughly to delude the enemy into a false security, went on leading a dissolute life with harlots and wine bibbers.

[00:23:59]One day, as he was returning home drunk from some low haunt, he fell down in the street and went to sleep, and all the passers by laughed him to scorn.

[00:24:11]It happened that a Satsuma man saw this and said, "Is this not Oishi Kuranosuk, who was a counselor of Asano Takumi Nokami, and who not having the heart to avenge his lord, gives himself up to women and wine. See how he lies drunk in the public street, faithless beast, fool and craven, unworthy the name of samurai.

[00:24:38]and he trod on Kuranosuk's face as he slept and spat upon him. But when Kotsuk Nosuk's spies reported all this at Yedo, he was greatly relieved at the news and felt secure from danger.

[00:24:56]This is where the story does become very ancient and mysterious to me because I don't know. Well, I I I don't believe that I would do something like that merely for the sake of deception. Like, throw away everything you are, dishonor yourself, abuse yourself, you know, bring bring shame to yourself and everyone around you all for the sake of disguise so that you can execute your plan. That's >> that might be an interesting question to ask a kid. Is is is this really honorable? I mean, it is. It is in a way. It shows it shows the total commitment and I guess it's just the different value system of a different time because this story wouldn't be so beloved if it wasn't seen as so very honorable and it's it's good to kind of think outside your preconceptions even if they're not the ones that you'll eventually adopt.

[00:25:52]One day, Kuranosuk's wife, who was bitterly grieved to see her husband lead this abandoned life, went to him and said, "My lord, you told me at first that your debauchery was but a trick to make your enemy relax in watchfulness.

[00:26:08]But indeed, indeed, this has gone too far. I pray and beseech you to put some restraint upon yourself."

[00:26:17]Trouble me not, replied Kuranosuk, for I will not listen to your whining. Since my way of life is displeasing to you, I will divorce you, and you may go about your business, and I will buy some pretty young girl from one of the public houses, and marry her for my pleasure.

[00:26:35]I'm sick of the sight of an old woman like you about the house, so get you gone. The sooner the better.

[00:26:43]I can't say I approve of that. [snorts] >> [laughter] >> So saying, he flew into a violent rage, and his wife, terrorstricken, pleaded pitously for mercy. Oh my lord, unsay those terrible words. I have been your faithful wife for 20 years, and have borne you three children. In sickness and in sorrow, I have been with you. You cannot be so cruel as to turn me out of doors. Now have pity. Have pity.

[00:27:12]cease this useless whailing. My mind is made up and you must go."

[00:27:19]And as the children are in my way also, you are welcome to take them with you."

[00:27:23]When she heard her husband speak thus, in her grief, she sought her eldest son, Oishi Chicara, and begged him to plead for her and pray that she might be pardoned. But nothing would turn Kuranosuk from his purpose. So his wife was sent away with the two younger children and went back to her native place.

[00:27:46]But Oishi Chicata remained with his father. This is the 16-year-old.

[00:27:54]That would be a question that I would put to a teenager reading this story.

[00:27:59]In the nasty divorce, which parent would you go with?

[00:28:05]The spies communicated all this without fail to Kotuk Nosuk. And he, when he heard how Koranosuk, having turned his wife and children out of doors and bought a concubine, was graveling in a life of drunkenness and lust, began to think that he had no longer anything to fear from the retainers of Takumi Nokami, who must be cowards without the courage to avenge their lord. So by degrees he began to keep a less strict watch and sent back half of the guard which had been lent to him by his father-in-law sama. Little did he think how he was falling into the trap laid for him by Kuranosuk who in his zeal to slay his lord's enemy thought nothing of divorcing his wife and sending away his children. Admirable and faithful man.

[00:28:55]In this way, Kuranosuk continued to throw dust in the eyes of his foe by persisting in his apparently shameless conduct. But his associates all went to Yedo and having in their several capacities as workmen and peddlers contrived to gain access to Kotsuk Nosuk's house made themselves familiar with the plan of the building and the arrangement of the different rooms and ascertained the character of the inmates who were brave and loyal men and who were cowards. Upon all of which matters, they sent regular reports to Kuranosuk.

[00:29:32]And when at last it became evident from the letters which arrived from Yedo that Kotuku Nosuk was thoroughly off his guard, Kuranosuk rejoiced that the day of vengeance was at hand. And having appointed a trristing place at Yedo, he fled secretly from Kyoto, eluding the vigilance of his enemy's spies. Then the 47 men, having laid all their plans, beded their time patiently.

[00:30:03]It was now mid-inter, the 12th month of the year, and the cold was bitter.

[00:30:10]One night, during a heavy fall of snow, when the whole world was hushed and peaceful men were stretched in sleep upon the mats, the Ronins determined that no more favorable opportunity could occur for carrying out their purpose. So they took council together, and having divided their band into two parties, assigned to each man his post.

[00:30:34]One band led by Owishi Kuranosuk was to attack the front gate and the other under his son Oishi Chicata was to attack the postern of Kotsukosuk's house. But as Chicata was only 16 years of age, Yoshida Chio Zimon was appointed to act as his guardian.

[00:30:56]You know a chaperone for your first assassination.

[00:30:59]Didn't we all have that?

[00:31:02]Further, it was arranged that a drum beaten at the order of Kuranosuk should be the signal for the simultaneous attack, and that if anyone slew Kotuku Nosuk and cut off his head, he should blow a shrill whistle as a signal to his comrades, who would hurry to the spot, and having identified the head, carry it off to the temple called Sanga Kuji, and lay it as an offering before the tomb of their dead lord.

[00:31:31]Then they must report their deed to the government and await the sentence of death which should be surely passed upon them. To this the Ronins one and all pledged themselves.

[00:31:47]Take just a moment before we move on and find out how successful this story is about a comment that says, "In modern cartoons, honor in terms of all-consuming devotion is typically villainized on par with revenge, but different from honor in the form of integrity." Yeah. Yeah. Um, I mean, and and obviously in most of our modern cartoons, at least the ones that are western produced, they're going to be informed by western morality where um like this is a this is an interesting question of morality and one that I think teenagers um definitely consider is how much dishonesty are you allowed to engage in for a higher cause, right? Various religions, cultures have different approaches to this. Like there are there are some morality systems that say no, you shouldn't lie no matter what. You should find a way to do this without dishonesty. And there's a difference between secrecy and dishonesty.

[00:32:55]But then there are others that say concealment or disguise or flatout lying is absolutely permissible if you are serving your own higher purpose especially against enemies of your own higher purpose. Um I would say generally in the western tradition there's going to be more of a stigma against being actually you know well like the way the way that he um the way Kodanosuk sent off his wife and children I think to western morality that that would be very very difficult to justify under any circumstances like it would be fine if um like let's say you were you were retelling this story because one thing that struck me when I was writing reading it is it does actually really resemble a lot of the tales of medieval knights. And so I can see why this part of the story, how the the you know, being gallant, getting vengeance, and and being loyal to your lord, these are things that are compatible. If this was a western story, maybe written about knights, then the knight's wife would have been collaborating, you know, and and she would have pretended to be cast off, but the knight wouldn't have actually been running around with other women. He just would have given the impression that he was with his wife's help. And then she makes a big stink in the street. Oh, that's it. I can't take this anymore. I'm leaving and going back to my mother's house. Right? Like she would have done that, but it would have been um she would have been in on the deception rather than a uh collateral damage of the deception. [laughter] And we have a comment in the chat describing the plan saying a heady offering indeed. That wins dad joke of the week right there. Okay. Well, shall we see what happens to the 47 Ronin?

[00:34:44]It's finally cooling down. Oh my goodness.

[00:34:48]Midnight was fixed upon as the hour, and the 47 comrades, having made all ready for the attack, partook of a last farewell feast together. For on the tomorrow they must die.

[00:35:03]Then Oishi Oishi Kuranosuk addressed the band and said, "Tonight we shall attack our enemy in his palace." His retainers his retainers with certain reason tonight we shall attack our enemy in his palace. His retainers will certainly resist us and we shall be obliged to kill them. But to slay old men and women and children is a pitiful thing.

[00:35:28]Therefore, I pray you each one to take great heed, lest you kill a single helpless person. His comrades all applauded this speech, and so they remained, waiting for the hour of midnight to arrive.

[00:35:43]When the appointed hour came, the ronins set forth. The wind howled furiously, and the driving snow beat in their faces, but little cared they for wind or snow as they hurried on the road, eager for revenge.

[00:35:58]At last they reached Kotsuk Nosuk's house and divided themselves into two bands and Chica with 23 men went round to the back gate. Then four men by means of a ladder of ropes which they hung on the roof of the porch affected an entry into the courtyard and as they saw signs that all the inmates of the house were asleep. They went to the porter's lodge where the guards slept and before the latter had time to recover from their astonishment bound them. The terrified guard prayed hard for mercy that their lives might be spared. And to this the ronins agreed on condition that the keys of the gate should be given up. But the others tremblingly said that the keys were kept in the house of one of their officers and that they had no means of obtaining them. Then the Ronins lost patience and with a hammer dashed in pieces the big wooden bolt which secured the gate and the doors flew open to the right and to the left. At the same time, Chikara and his party broke in by the back gate. Then Oishi Kuranosuk sent a messenger to the neighboring houses bearing the following message. We, the Ronins, who are formerly in the service of Asano Takumi Nokami, are this night about to break into the palace of Kotsuk Nosuk to avenge our lord. As we are neither night robbers nor ruffians, no hurt will be done to the neighboring houses. We pray you to set your minds at rest.

[00:37:35]as and as Kotuku Nosuk was hated by his neighbors for his covetousness, they did not unite their forces to assist him.

[00:37:44][laughter] Be a good neighbor. Be a good neighbor because if you're not a good neighbor, they will not back you up when there's a revenge plot against you. In chat, we hear I'll just pause before we continue because the battle's pretty good. We got one comment that says, "I found an audio copy of Bushido on LibriVox and I've listened to that many times. It speaks to the opening up of Japan and the end of the samurai, the history of Japan.

[00:38:08]Worth learning a thing or two about?

[00:38:09]Absolutely. I I only have a fairly superficial understanding of this period, but it's definitely something I want to make more time for because it's fascinating.

[00:38:18]And [laughter] another comment, if revenge is a dish best served cold, excellent Wrath of Khan reference, perhaps it is fitting that they waited for things to cool down. Absolutely.

[00:38:30]Well, they they let their guard down.

[00:38:32]Everyone was asleep. They didn't think anyone was coming, but they came.

[00:38:36]Another precaution was yet taken. Lest any of the people inside should run out to call the relations of the family to the rescue, and these coming in force should interfere with the plans of the Ronins, Kuranosuk stationed 10 of his men armed with bows on the roof of the four sides of the courtyard, with orders to shoot any retainers who might attempt to leave the palace. Having thus laid all his plans and posted his men, Kuranosuk with his own hand beat the drum and gave the signal for attack.

[00:39:11]10 of Kotsuk Nosuk's retainers, hearing the noise, woke up, and drawing their swords, rushed into the front room to defend their master. At this moment, the Ronins, who had burst open the door of the front hall, entered the same room.

[00:39:26]Then arose a furious fight between the two parties, in the midst of which Chicata, leading his men through the garden, broke into the back of the house, and Kotuku Nosuk, in terror of his life, took refuge with his wife and female servants in a closet in the veranda, while the rest of his retainers who slept in the barrack outside the house, made ready to go to the rescue.

[00:39:52]hiding doesn't reflect very well on Kotuk Nosuk.

[00:39:57]So, he's proud and greedy and uh not very gallant in battle. But the ronins who had come by the front door and were fighting with the 10 retainers ended by overpowering and slaying the ladder without using without losing one of their own number. After which, forcing their way bravely toward the back rooms, they were joined by Chicara and his men, and the two bands were united in one. By this time, the remainder of Kotsuk Nosuk's men had come in, and the fight became general, and Kuranosuk sitting on a camp stool gave his orders and directed the Ronins.

[00:40:34]Soon, the inmates of the house perceived that they were no match for their enemy.

[00:40:38]So they tried to send out intelligence of their plight to U Sugama, their lord's father-in-law, begging him to come to the rescue with all force at his command. But the messengers were shot down by the archers whom Kuranosuk had posted on the roof.

[00:40:55]So no help coming, they fought on in despair. Then Kuranosuk cried out with a loud voice, "Kotsuk nosuk alone is our enemy. Let someone go inside and bring him forth, dead or alive.

[00:41:12]Now in front of Kotsuk Nosuk's private room stood three brave retainers with drawn swords. The first was Kobayashi Heihachi. The second was Waku Hayau and the third was Shimitsu Ikaku. All good men and true, an expert swordsman.

[00:41:34]So stoutly did these men lay about them that for a while they kept the whole of the ronins at bay and at one moment even forced them back. When Oishi Kuranosuk saw this, he ground his teeth with rage and shouted to his men, "What did not every man of you swear to lay down his life in avenging his lord?" And now you were driven back by three men, cowards not fit to be spoken to, die fighting in a master's cause should be the noblelest ambition of a train of a retainer. Then turning to his own son Chicara, he said, "Here, boy. Engage those men and if they are too strong for you, die."

[00:42:10]Spurred by these words, Chicara seized a spear and gave battle to Waku Hondaiou, but could not hold his ground, and backing by degrees, was driven out into the garden where he missed his footing and slipped into a pond. But as Haiou thinking to kill him looked down into the pond, Chicara cut his enemy in the leg and caused him to fall and then crawling out of the water dispatched him. In the meanwhile, Kobayashi Heihachi and Shimitsu Ikaku had been killed by the other ronins. And of all Kotuk Nouk's retainers, not one fighting man remained.

[00:42:49]Chikara, seeing this, went with his bloody sword in his hand into a back room to search for Kotsuk Nosuk. But he only found the son of the latter, a young lord named Kira Sai Sahoy, who carrying a halbird attacked him, but was soon wounded and fled. Thus, the whole of Kotsuk Nosuk's men having been killed, there was an end of the fighting. But as yet, there was no trace of Kotuk Nosuk to be found.

[00:43:21]Then Kuranosuk divided his men into several parties and searched the whole house, but all in vain. Women and children weeping were alone to be seen.

[00:43:30]At this the 47 men began to lose heart in regret that after all their toil they had allowed their enemy to escape them.

[00:43:38]And there was a moment when in their despair they agreed to commit suicide together on the spot. But they determined to make one more effort. So Kuranosuk went into Kitsuk Nosuk's sleeping room and touching the quilt with his hands exclaimed, "I have just felt the bed clothes and they are yet warm. And so he thinks that our enemy is not far off. He must certainly be hidden somewhere in the house. Greatly excited by this, the Ronins renewed their search. Now in the raised part of the room near the place of honor, there was a picture hanging. Taking down this picture, they saw that there was a large hole in the plastered wall. And on thrusting a spear in, they could feel nothing behind it.

[00:44:23]So, one of the ronins called Yazama Jutaro got into the hole and found that on the other side there was a little courtyard in which there stood an outhouse for holding charcoal and firewood.

[00:44:38]Looking into the outhouse, he spied something white at the further end at which he struck with his spear when two armed men sprang out upon him and tried to cut him down. But he kept them back until one of his comrades came up and killed the two men and engaged the other while Jotaro entered the outhouse and felt about with his spear. Again, seeing something white, he struck it with his lance when a cry of pain betrayed that it was a man. So he rushed up and the man in white clothes who had been wounded in the thigh drew a dirk and aimed a blow at him. But Gotto rested the derk from him and clutching him by the collar dragged him out of the outhouse. Then the other ronin came up and they examined the prisoner attentively and saw that he was a noble looking man, some 60 years of age, dressed in a white satin sleeping robe, which was stained by the blood from the thigh wound which Gotaro had inflicted.

[00:45:39]The two men felt convinced that this was no other than Kotuku Nosuk, and they asked him his name, but he gave no answer. So they gave the signal whistle, and all their comrades collected together at the call. Then Oi Kuranosuk, bringing a lantern, scanned the old man's features, and it was indeed Kotuk Nosuk. And if further proof were wanting, he still bore a scar on his forehead where their master Takumi Nokami had wounded him during the array in the castle. There being no possibility of a mistake, therefore, Oishi Kuranosuk went down on his knees and addressing the old man very respectfully said, "My lord, we are the retainers of Asano Takumi nokami. Last year your lordship and our master quarreled in the palace and our master was sentenced to Harakiri and his family was ruined.

[00:46:42]We have come tonight to avenge him as is the duty of faithful and loyal men.

[00:46:50]I pray your lordship to acknowledge the justice of our purpose. And now my lord we beseech you to perform harakiri. I myself shall have the honor to act as your second and when with all humility I shall have received your lordship's head. It is my intention to lay it as an offering upon the grave of Asano Takuminoami.

[00:47:09]That's the uh most polite assassin I've ever heard. I guess well, maybe calling him an assassin is unfair, but this is the uh most polite invitation to execution that I think you will ever find in any story anywhere.

[00:47:24]Looks like a couple of you have some ideas.

[00:47:26]Oh, we've got a comment. Wow, it sure did get dark quick outside. Well, yes, it is. Um it's nearly 10:00 here in England. Um one of the things I do love here are the beautiful long lovely evenings that we get. Uh by midsummer it'll be it won't get dark till 11 and it starts getting light again at 3. So uh very good blackout curtains are a mustave in British houses.

[00:47:52]And then uh we've got another comment that says, "This battle makes me think of that scene in Monty Python Holy Grail where the knight runs through the castle killing everyone only times 47." Yeah, kind of does. I mean, intended to be less comical, but where he just goes in and just tears everyone to pieces. This is part of why the story is considered so impressive is that the attack was so well planned because you can see they they positioned the archers so that it wasn't possible to gather reinforcements. It's like this is really really good tactical maneuvers. They had two parties enter which doubles it doubles your opportunity to get caught but it also doubles your opportunity to get in and then it also creates the opportunity to surprise a group. Let's say the first group that entered got really really caught. Well, if the other group can come in and attack from behind pinser movement, you might be able to get out of that sticky situation. So that's part of why this story is so admired is that the 47 ronin flawlessly execute this attack.

[00:48:53]So now what what we've got um so he's gotten this very polite invitation to Harakiri.

[00:49:01]Thus, in consideration of the high rank of Kotuku Nosuk, the Ronins treated him with the greatest courtesy and over and over [clears throat] and treated him to perform hardi, [laughter] but he crouched speechless and trembling. At last, Kuranosuk, seeing that it was vain to urge him to die the death of a nobleman, forced him down and cut off his head with the same derk with which Asano Takumi Nokami had killed himself. Poetic justice there.

[00:49:38]Then the 47 comrades, elated at having accomplished their design, placed the head in a bucket and prepared to depart.

[00:49:46]But before leaving the house, they carefully extinguished all the lights and fires in the place, lest by any accident a fire should break out and the neighbors suffer. Very polite.

[00:50:00]As they were on their way to Takanawa, the suburb in which the temple called Sangakuji stands, the day broke and the people flocked out to see the 47 men who, with their clothes and arms all bloodstained, presented a terrible appearance, and everyone praised them, wondering at their valor and faithfulness.

[00:50:22]But they expect ated every moment that Kot Kotsuk nosuk's father would in-law or his father-in-law would attack them and carry off the head and um and made ready to die bravely sword in hand.

[00:50:36]However, they reached Takanawa in safety. For Matsudira Akinoami, one of the 18 chief daimos of Japan, of whose house Asano Takumi Nokami had been a cadet, had been highly pleased when he heard of the last night's work, and he had made ready to assist the Ronins in case they were attacked. So, Kotuku's father-in-law dared not pursue them. At about 7 in the morning, they came opposite to the palace of Matsu Mutsu Nokami, the prince of Sendai. And the prince, hearing of it, sent for one of his counselors and said, "The retainers of Takumi Nokami have slain their lord's enemy and are passing this way. I cannot sufficiently admire their devotion. So, as they must be tired and hungry after their night's work, "Do you go down and invite them to come in here and set some grl and a cup of wine before them?" So, the counselor went out and said to Oi Kuranosuk, "Sir, I am a counselor of the prince of Sendai, and my master bids me beg you, as you must be worn out after all you have undergone, to come in and partake of such poor refreshment as we can offer you." This is my message to you from my lord. I thank you, sir, replied Kuranosuk. It is very good of his lordship to trouble himself to think of us. We shall accept his kindness gratefully. So the 47 ronins went into the palace and were feasted with grl and wine and all the retainers of the prince of Sai came and praised them. Then Kuranosuk turned to his counselor and said, "Sir, we are truly indebted to you for this kind hospitality. But as we have still to hurry to Sangakuji, we must needs humbly take our leave." I guess they have got a head in a bucket.

[00:52:30]So I see why they want to move along.

[00:52:34]And after returning many thanks to their hosts, they left the palace of the prince of Sai and hastened to Sangakuji where they were met by the abbot of the monastery who went to the front gate to receive them and led them to the tomb of Takumi Nokami.

[00:52:51]And when they came to their lord's grave, they took the head of katsuk no nossuk and having washed it clean in a well hard by laid it as an offering before the tomb.

[00:53:06]When they had done this, they engaged the priests of the temple to come and read prayers while they burnt incense.

[00:53:12]First Oishi Kuranosuk burnt incense.

[00:53:15]Then his son Oishi Chicara and after them the other 45 men performed the same ceremony. Then Kuranosuk having given all the money that he had by him to the abbott said, "When we 47 men have performed Harakiri, I beg you to bury us decently. I rely upon your kindness.

[00:53:36]This is but a trifle that I have to offer, such as it is. let it be spent in masses for our souls. And the abbott marveling at the faithful courage of the men with tears in his eyes pledged himself to fulfill their wishes. And you'll you'll notice in that passage that it's used again, language that's going to be more familiar. This this is very well might be the very very first story from Japan that Western readers would have ever encountered in their lives. And so they would have known nothing about Japanese religious practices or even the vocabulary, anything like that. So what he's done is used words like abbot, monastery, you know, masses for our souls because he's referring to people and job titles and rituals that are analogous, right? And so this is this is how you start getting cultures introduced to each other. Of course, if this story was translated today, it would have the Japanese terms and maybe there'd be a glossery and things like that, but we've had now much longer to get familiar with Japanese culture. So, I I think this makes sense for a text written in 1871.

[00:54:48][laughter] And we've got Ray and Cats commenting, "Rest your bucket and dine with us." And so they do. And then that head isn't getting any fresher. I would not imagine so. Now, it does say it's winter, I think. Yeah, this this happened in winter. So, at least it's not a nice hot evening like it is for me here because I could imagine maybe if it was summer when they did this, uh maybe they wouldn't have stopped for a meal with that that bucket, if it was as hot and humid as it is here right now.

[00:55:21]Okay, so let's see what happens. So the 47 ronins with their minds at rest waited patiently until they should receive the orders of the government.

[00:55:32]This I think is the amazing honorable part and it's one that I think westerners can relate to because it's this is obviously a violent act but you can almost compare this to say like the writings of Henry David Thorough with like you know where you talk about if if you're going to do the kind of resistance against government tradition you know then you have to accept the consequences and so that kind of nonviolent resistance like you you've done the thing you're going to accept responsib responsibility. This is obviously a violent act that's taken place, but they consider it necessary for their honor, but they have absolutely no intention of avoiding accountability for what they've done.

[00:56:11]At last, they were summoned to the Supreme Court, where the governors of Yedo and the public sensors had assembled, and the sentence passed upon them was as follows.

[00:56:21]Whereas neither respecting the dignity of the city nor fearing the government, having leagued yourselves together to slay your enemy, you violently broke into the house of Kira Kotuki Nosuk by night and murdered him. The sentence of the court is that for this audacious conduct, you perform harakiri.

[00:56:40]When the sentence had been read, the 47 ronins were divided into four parties and handed over to the safekeeping of four different daimos and sheriffs were sent to the palaces of those daimos in whose presence the ronins were made to perform harakiri.

[00:56:56]But as from the very beginning they had all made up their minds that to this end they must come. They met their death noly and their corpses were carried to Sangakuji and buried in front of the tomb of their master Asano Takumi nokami. And when the fame of this became noised abroad, the people flocked to pray at the graves of these faithful men. Among those who came to pray was a Satsuma man who prostrating himself before the grave of Oishi Kuranosuk said, "When I saw you lying drunk by the roadside at Yamasha in Kyoto, I knew not that you were plotting to avenge your lord. And thinking you to be a faithless man, I trampled on you and spat in your face as I passed. And now I have come to ask pardon and offer atonement for the insult of last year. With those words he prostrated himself again before the grave and drawing a derk from his girdle stabbed himself in the belly and died.

[00:58:03]And the chief priest of the temple taking pity upon him buried him by the side of the ronins. and his tomb still remains to be seen with those of the 47 comrades.

[00:58:16]This is the end of the story of the 47 Ronins.

[00:58:23]There is a little bit of a postcript to this story. I won't read all of it, but there was one thing that the author noted that you know, so this story happened in 1701, but this is now being written in 1871.

[00:58:38]I will add one anecdote to show the sanctity which is attached to the graves of the 47. In the month of September 1868, a certain man came to pray before the grave of Oiara.

[00:58:50]Having finished his prayers, he deliberately performed harakiri and the belly wound not being mortal dispatched himself by cutting his throat. Upon his person were found papers setting forth that being a ronin and without means of earning a living, he had petitioned to be allowed to enter the clan of the prince of Chosu, which he looked upon as the noblelest clan of the realm. His petition having been refused, nothing remained for him but to die. For to be a Ronin was hateful to him, and he would serve no other master than the prince of Chosu.

[00:59:29]What more fitting place could he find in which to put an end to his life than the graveyard of these braves?

[00:59:36]This happened about 200 yards distance from my house. And when I saw the spot an hour or two later, the ground was all bespattered with blood and disturbed by the death struggles of the man.

[00:59:51]Definitely more of a heavy story than what I usually go for, but it's it's one that I really find fascinating and it was it was fun to discover it. And I'd like to read other accounts. I was able to find online um people verbally telling the story who who are native Japanese speakers and were explaining the story to a Western audience. But it would be fun to look up other translations and see how the telling has changed over the years. But I thought that one was pretty thrilling and I would like to look more through the book Tales of Old Japan and see what else is in there. Um, you know, there might be some other fun stories that I could share with you and it would be fun to learn a little bit more. I mean most of most of my background in terms of stories I understand they come from the stories I heard as a kid obviously and then um the cultural areas that I studied which is going to be the uh you know British Isles, Scandinavia and kind of Germanic is is the area that I've formally studied and then informally other areas. But I I really want to get more out of my comfort zone and try some stories from farther abroad because you know it's fun to mix it up and it's fun to push myself out of my comfort zone.

[01:01:07]So I guess the question that I would have for you is you know what in this modern day can can we still relate to? I think obviously these days this story literally playing out would be unacceptable by modern law and everything. But I do think there is something we can still learn from and admire about that level of commitment. Um where's the point where you would have turned back?

[01:01:41]I guess you don't have to like say it out loud if you don't want to, but I think that that's a question worth asking every one of ourselves. And is there a cause for which you wouldn't turn back?

[01:01:54]I don't know. But yeah, let me know. Uh so we've got another comment here just to wind up on your uh your comments. Uh Alwick says, "Oh, the Yo-kai are probably a good start. Got to love monster tales." Yeah, I have gotten familiar with some of the stories of Yo-kai. Um, they show up in fun little folk tales and things. And then Ray and Cat says, "I've never seen the movie.

[01:02:16]Wonder if it's worth a watch." My understanding is that the movie made a pretty wild departure. I haven't seen it either. I I have no idea if you could enjoy it on its own merits. I mean, of course, that's personal taste. I I did hear that it doesn't terribly closely match. I would be very surprised. So the the interesting thing about this this story um is that within weeks of the actual events, so in 17 in 1701 or this would have been early 1702 because within weeks it would have been the new year by the western calendar anyway. Um within weeks of this happening, it was already being performed on stage and this was already being fictionalized and represented and retold. I bet good money that this has been turned into manga and anime. Like, there's no way this hasn't been told in film. And so, if you've seen any of these and you can recommend any to me, I would I would love that.

[01:03:17]That would be really fun. Uh, but I don't know a lot about Japanese film or or anything like that. It's completely outside my area. So, if you have recommendations, please do put them in the comments and I'd love to check them out.

[01:03:31]Alex says, "It is hard to imagine their concept of honor being something worth dying for, even with social pressures of the honor systems." I mean, yeah, like they they really believe this. They re they really really believe this. But the thing is in a way they earned immortality, right?

[01:03:48]Like they gave up the lives they had.

[01:03:50]Even that 16-year-old boy, that's the other part that I Yeah. Like it's it is hard for me. I will fully admit it is hard for me to think outside my own value system for the 16-year-old boy to also it it shows that he's very brave and courageous to want to go around with it.

[01:04:09]But um you know to let him suffer the same fate as the grown men. I mean but probably by the standards of his culture he was he's probably considered a grown man. we, you know, the concept of being a teenager is very much a modern thing that um didn't exist back then. So, he he probably was considered an adult for the purposes of making his own decisions. So, yeah. Uh yeah. And speaking of the 47 Ronin Hollywood film, Keanu Reeves isn't really Japanese, so I'm not sure why they Well, Keanu Reeves was casted. Why did they really cast him? Um because, you know, he's been in plenty of other movies that have done well, and I don't know. This is always a thing with Hollywood. Hollywood's takes is you have to you have to pick someone who's bankable, who you think you can make money on, but then um yeah, maybe not the best choice for that film. Maybe I will check it out sometime, but I I don't remember anyone particularly recommending it to me. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that. It is getting late and it is hot and my voice is giving out.

[01:05:13]So, [laughter] I'm gonna sip more ice water and get to bed. Uh, my next live stream will be Saturday night. It will be a 10 Things I Hate About You watch party.

[01:05:24]You'll have to get your own copy of the movie, so it'll be my commentary track.

[01:05:27]And thank you. Thank you. As I always say, thanks for listening. I really mean it. Um, thanks to all 14,000 subscribers and go get a friend and we'll get 14,000 more and then I'll read you more stories. Hopefully next time I'll be able to light the fire. There was just no way I was going to be able to do it tonight without sweating to death. So anyway, thanks for listening.