Changes

*Japanese: 赤穂浪士(Ako Roshi), 忠臣蔵(Chushingura)

*Japanese: 赤穂浪士(Akô Rôshi), 忠臣蔵(Chûshingura)

The story of the 47 Ronin is one of the most celebrated in the history of the samurai. This was perhaps all the more so because it occurred at a time when the samurai class was struggling to maintain a sense of itself - warriors with no war, a social class without a function.

The story of the 47 Ronin is one of the most celebrated in the history of the samurai. This was perhaps all the more so because it occurred at a time when the samurai class was struggling to maintain a sense of itself - warriors with no war, a social class without a function.

The tale could be said to have begun with the teachings of [[Yamaga Soko]] ([[1622]]-[[1685]]), an influential theorist who wrote a number of important works on the warrior spirit and what it meant to be samurai. His writings inspired a certain [[Oishi Kuranosuke|Ôishi Kuranosuke Yoshio]], a samurai and retainer of [[Asano Naganori|Asano ''Takumi no kami'' Naganori]] ([[1667]]-[[1701]]), who led a branch of the powerful [[Asano clan|Asano family]].

The tale could be said to have begun with the teachings of [[Yamaga Soko]] ([[1622]]-[[1685]]), an influential theorist who wrote a number of important works on the warrior spirit and what it meant to be samurai. His writings inspired a certain [[Oishi Kuranosuke|Ôishi Kuranosuke Yoshio]], a samurai and retainer of [[Asano Naganori|Asano ''Takumi no kami'' Naganori]] ([[1667]]-[[1701]]), who led a branch of the powerful [[Asano clan|Asano family]].

[[Image:Matsunoroka.jpg|right|thumb|Asano attackes Kira]]

[[Image:Matsunoroka.jpg|right|thumb|Asano attacks Kira]]

It happened that Lord Asano was chosen by the shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, to be one of a number of daimyo tasked with entertaining envoys from the Imperial family. To assist him in this new duty, the Bakufu's highest ranking master of protocol, Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka (1641-1702), was assigned to instruct him in matters of etiquette. Kira, it seems, was a somewhat difficult character and expected Asano to compensate him monetarily for the trouble, which Asano held was simply his duty. The two grew to dislike one another intensely, and Kira made every effort to embarrass his student. Finally, in April of 1702, the situation exploded within the shogun's palace - Kira insulted Asano once again, prompting the latter to draw his sword and swing at him. Kira was only wounded in the attack and Asano was promptly placed under confinement.

It happened that Lord Asano was chosen by the shogun, [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]], to be one of a number of daimyo tasked with entertaining envoys from the Imperial family. To assist him in this new duty, the Bakufu's highest ranking master of protocol, [[Kira Yoshinaka|Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka]] (1641-1702), was assigned to instruct him in matters of etiquette. Kira, it seems, was a somewhat difficult character and expected Asano to compensate him monetarily for the trouble, which Asano held was simply his duty. The two grew to dislike one another intensely, and Kira made every effort to embarrass his student. Finally, in April of 1702, the situation exploded within the shogun's palace - Kira insulted Asano once again, prompting the latter to draw his sword and swing at him. Kira was only wounded in the attack and Asano was promptly placed under confinement.

Striking another man in anger was against the law - doing so within the shogun's palace was unthinkable. Asano made little effort to defend himself during questioning except to say that he bore the shogun no ill will and only regretted that he had failed to kill Kira.

Striking another man in anger was against the law - doing so within the shogun's palace was unthinkable. Asano made little effort to defend himself during questioning except to say that he bore the shogun no ill will and only regretted that he had failed to kill Kira.