Customer Reviews

The Forty-Seven Ronin Story

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

bodhiman@hotmail.com from California, USA , 03/04/98, rating=10: Please accept my revised review which I have edited for errors. As a student of martial arts and Japanese history, I found this story, which is little known outside of Japan to be a most impressive example of the ideals of the elite warrior class of Japan known as Samurai. In Japanese, it is entitled "Chushingura" which translates as "Vengeance" The Forty-Seven Ronin Story probably ranks as one of my favorite books about history ( and I have read many). Unlike other historical situations where men were faced with death, these men had a choice between life and death and they chose death with honor. The warriors were driven by allegiance to their code of chivalry known as "Bushido" which emphasizes a fanatical loyalty to their lord, tempered by the serenity and wisdom of Confucianism and Buddhism. The book provides fascinating insight into the feudal system known as "bakufu" under the Tokugawa shogunate and the influences of Confucianism and Buddhism on Japanese society. While it may be fictionalized or embellished in places, the book is based on a true incident which occurred in 1701. The loyal retainers of Lord Asano were given the choice of a free life with a loss of reputation suffered when their lord was wrongly forced to commit seppuku. Instead, the men chose to seek vengeance and restore honor to their clan. The loss of face caused by the death of their lord was more than they could endure and the men sought revenge after a two year facade of drunkeness, unruly behavior and poverty. Ultimately, the corrupt court official responsible for Lord Asano's death was beheaded by the loyal retainers and the men dutifully paid their respects at Lord Asano's grave before turning themselves in for court martial. All forty-seven men were given the privilege of committing seppuku, for which they were grateful since imprisonment or execution was considered disgraceful. The loyal retainers were buried with their lord at a temple called Sengaku-ji which is located just outside of the city of Tokyo. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture, history or martial arts. It is one of the most impressive examples of men who refuse to compromise their honor or integrity at any cost..

The story of the 47 ronin is THE national story of Japan and the key to understanding Nihon Kokoro, the japanese mind. Just as the United States has the legend of the Alamo, Japan has the story of the 47 Ronin. The popularity of the story comes from the fact that the heroes had become an ideal. They embody all that a Nihonjin, a Japanese person strives to be. It also illustrates the cultural chasm between the asian cultures and western cultures regarding duty, honor and death (the japanese consider seppuku a very honorable way to die).

The heroic warriors were offered a chance to live, but in a solemn and dramatic ceremony, each man, in turn, knelt down and ran his thumb over the blade of a razor sharp Katana (sword blade)in order to draw blood. One by one, they then impressed their thumbprint on a document swearing loyalty to the end to Asano, Lord of Ako. More than three hundred fifty men in all executed the blood oath, and forty-seven would avenge him. The Ronin were buried next to their Lord and his wife on the grounds of a buddhist temple, a site of ritual pilgramige to this day. A must read for anyone studying martial arts, this book is the key to understanding the spirit and the drive of the Japanese people.

John Allyn here presents for English language audiences one of the most oft-told episodes in Japanese history. In March 1701, Lord Asano of Ako, having been summoned before the Shogun in Edo (modern Tokyo), was provoked into attacking a corrupt official, Kira, the Shogun's Master of Ceremonies. Asano was forced to commit seppuku, ritual suicide, and his lands were forfeit. His death left his samurai masterless, or ronin , but when they learned that Kira had survived his wounds they determined to avenge Asano, following the Confucian edict that :

[N]o man may live under the same sky with the murderer of his lord.

After biding their time until Kira was in an exposed position--no longer protected by the Shogun's forces--forty seven of Asano's former samurai attacked his castle (December 14, 1702) and killed him, despite the almost certain death their actions were likely to bring :

[S]ome people live all their lives without knowing which path is right. They're buffeted by this wind or that and never really know where they're going. That's largely the fate of the commoners--those who have no choice over their destiny. For those of us born as samurai, life is something else. We know the path of duty and we follow it without question.

Their action proved so popular that the Shogun allowed the forty seven to commit seppuku rather than be executed as criminals. Their gravesite, at Sengaku-ji Temple, remains a national shrine; the story is a staple of Japanese theater under the title Chushingura; and there are several film versions, including one which was used as WWII propaganda by the government.

In Allyn's capable retelling, the story is brisk and thrilling, with a minimum of extraneous philosophizing or psychoanalyzing. The action, though terrible, takes on a logic of its own, as the ronin seek to redeem their master and preserve their own obligations of honor, loyalty, and duty. The tale and its continuing resonance reveals much that is admirable, but also unfortunate, about the Japanese character. You can't help but admire the devotion with which they adhere to their moral code, but at the same time there is something chilling about the automatic, unthinking nature of their actions and the degree to which they are influenced by external factors, like how others will judge them, rather than by internal ethical considerations. Most disturbing though is the question of whether this loyalty is a one way street, or whether the masters would be similarly willing to sacrifice themselves for their underlings, and whether each samurai would so sacrifice himself for a mere comrade.

Obedience, particularly blind obedience, be it to a man or to a code of conduct, is a very dangerous trait for any culture to glorify, both because it absolves the obedient of moral responsibility and because it stifles innovative thought. The same qualities which seem so laudable here and which have made Japan a homogenous, orderly, productive, and nonlitigious society, have also made it susceptible to authoritarian government, overt and covert racism, industrial cronyism, economic stagnation, and have contributed to a culture that is simply not very creative and tends to be too inflexible for its own good.

As a pure novel of adventure, the book is terrific and the insight the story provides into the Japanese character is invaluable. Both the book and two movie versions of the story, 47 Ronin and Chushingura, are well worth tracking down.

GRADE : A-

While not hugely detailed, "The Forty-Seven Ronin Story" is a good introduction to one of the central icons of Japanese history. The 47 Ronin have become the embodiment of duty, sacrifice and honour, and deservedly so. This book, while not without its faults, presents non-Japanese readers with a good introduction to the tale.

Essentially, the book stays true to the major details of the 47 Ronin story. It is not detailed, as it is not all that long, but it covers the main points and adds some flesh to the story along the way.

For those not familiar with Japanese manners and courtesy of the Edo Period, the book has no major issues. However, those familiar with these points, will find places where Allyn has taken some liberties and changed aspects of the story. One such point is the attack on the Shogun's courtier and the place where it happened. While not fatal to the story itself, it is noticeable to those with a familiarity with the history surrounding the 47 Ronin.

For a fast, light read, "The Forty-Seven Ronin Story" is a great book that is a great introduction to a fantastic episode in Japanese history. However, for history buffs who have already gained a fair amount of knowledge on this specific episode, you might want to find something else.

For those who want more about the history itself, there is a good selection of contemporary and nearly so sources translated in Hiroaki Sato's Legends of the Samurai. Some of these sources even criticise the 47 Ronin for various reasons.

As a student of martial arts and Japanese history, I found this story, which is little known outside of Japan to be a most impressive example of the ideals of the elite warrior class of Japan known as Samurai. It probably ranks as one of my favorite books about history ( and i have read many). Unlike other historical situations where men were faced with death, these men had a choice between life and death and they chose death with honor. It also provides fascinating insight into the feudal Japanese society under the Tokugawa shogunate and the influences of Confucianism and Buddhism on Japanese society. While it may be fictionalized or embellished in places, the book is based on a true incident which occured in 1701. The loyal retainers of Lord Asano were given the choice of a free life with the loss of reputation suffered when their lord was wrongly forced to commit seppuku. Instead, the men chose to seek vengeance and restore honor to their clan. Loss of face was more than they could endure. The men sought their revenge after a two year facade of drunkeness, unruly behavior and poverty. Ultimately, the corrupt court official responsible for Lord Asano's death was beheaded by the loyal retainers and they paid their respects at Lord Asano's grave before turning themselves in for court martial. All forty-seven men were given the privilege of commiting seppuku, for which they were grateful since imprisonment or execution is considered disgraceful. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture, history or martial arts. It is one of the most impressive examples of men who refuse to compromise their honor or integrity at any cost..

This wonderful book is a bit of historical fiction that is based on one of the most famous examples of samurai honor and bravery. In 1702, Naganori Asano-Takuminokami was on a ceremonial visit to Shogun Tsunayoshi, but when he was insulted by a greedy and conceited courtier, Lord Asano struck him with his sword, violating the law, and resulting in his own order to commit ceremonial suicide. With the Asano estates forfeit to the Shogunate, all of his samurai were made masterless samurai or ronin.

Determined to regain their honor through killing the courtier for his role in their master's death, 47 of the ronin bided their time, and struck back at their hated enemy. Though the Shogun was impressed by their devotion to Bushido, as indeed was the entire nation, he had no choice by to give them the most lenient sentence that he could, by allowing them to commit ceremonial suicide. And with that, the 47 ronin passed from this life into legend.

This is a very moving book, and is much better than I had expected. The author does an excellent job of painting Japan as it then existed, and really brings the characters to life. I really enjoyed this great book, this stirring tale of honor, and highly recommend it to you.

I highly recommend this read for anyone. It is the original story of true loyalty and vengance. I was surprised at how few versions of this story are actually written (at least in the US). Keep in mind this is one written version of a popular folktale - much like many popular Robin Hood stories. There are few actual written historical accounts of the true events and what goes on in the story is not to be taken as historically accurate. It is a good yarn and the author has done an excellent job of weaving together this story. You feel Oishi's quiet outrage every step of the way on his quest to avenge his Lord Asano. Parts of the plot of this story have been retold in several popular American movies typically in the form of the son trying to avenge the death of his father rather than the retainer trying to avenge the death of his master (Star Wars anyone?). Needless to say it is a timeless classic tale of Honor, Loyalty, and Revenge.

The 47 Ronin is one of the most interesting Japanese Samurai stories. The story of what 47 Samurai will do to avenge the unjust death of the Daimyo is incredible. Whether you are into Japanese culture or a teacher, or anyone interested a just a good story about morals, duty, revenge, and patience should read this story. This version, the only English version I know of, is pretty good. David Morrell in the opening Chapter of the 5 Profession does a nice job of telling the story in just a few pages. Once you know the outcome of the 47 Ronin story, you will never forget it.

Revenge and Redemption In a world where change was taking place so rapidly, the 47 ronin of Ako forced themselves to continue the tradition of honor and social control that feudal Japan had once been ruled by. Japan was a place that was in a constant state of flux and change in the beginning of the 18th century. While the Shogun, Tsunayoshi, attempted to further his central control in the country social changes began to take place. The makeup of the social classes was being redefined. A system that was once enforced by the samurai was now increasingly being centralized. Asano and his force of samurai were the exception to this rule of change. For them the most important aspect of their history was duty, honor, and sacrifice. The 47 Ronin Story is a book about honor, revenge and redemption. From the beginning of the story, the concept of honor and redemption is apparent. Lord Asano of Ako is portrayed as an honorable man who is trying to live the laws set forth by the Shogun Tsunayoshi. In obedience to his leader, Asano is readying himself for the ceremonies to take place in the palace of the Shogun. At the same time, an element of tradition and redemption of traditional ways takes place in his preparation. In order for Asano to understand the etiquette for the occasion, he must learn from the Shogun's master of ceremonies, Kira. Kira requires a bribe for his services and Asano refuses to pay the bribe because of his traditional values. In Asano's attempt to protect and redeem himself from the bribery and corruption, he ends up committing a grievous act wherein he injures Kira and seals his fate. Although Asano was allowed to commit seppuku it was, in a way, a disgrace to the honor and tradition of traditional Japanese values. Immediately after the death of the Lord of Ako, the samurai serving Asano, now ronin or masterless samurai, become fixed on revenge and redemption of their good names, and the name of their master, Lord Asano. No longer with a master, and their lands taken over, the ronin of Ako disperse with the knowledge that some day they will hopefully return and avenge the death of their lord, and regain their titles as samurai. With Kira alive the ronin felt they could not redeem themselves without the death of their lord's effectual killer. In the first days after their master's death, almost all of the ronin vowed to someday get revenge. As time passed, however, only the most dedicated ronin were seen to be the ones to take an interest in regaining what was previously theirs. In the attempt to organize their forces, the ronin of Ako would eventually have to do exactly the opposite of what they were planning to do in order to attain revenge, and redeem themselves. The ronin had to totally degrade themselves. The ronin had to let others around them know that they were truly masterless samurai who had lost all of their will to become honorable men through revenge on Kira. One man opened up an archery school, teaching the arts of the samurai to the common people. This was a despicable and dishonorable action to take. Even Oishi, the retainer of the Ako forces had to convince the people around him that he was no longer desirous to seek revenge, and redeem his good name. In his attempt to soil his reputation he divorced his wife, began drinking heavily, spent his time in geisha houses, attended the Kabuki theater, and even started a fight in the theater allowing himself to lose showing his apparent bad sowrdsmanship. While trying to soil his reputation further by living with a mistress from one of the geisha houses, and drinking heavily, some of the ronin under his command began to question his ability in leadership. Fortunately the charade put on by the ronin of Ako was seen by outsiders as a loss in honor and reputation. Spies that once watched the ronin retreated, and the ronin were finally able to plan their final attack on their hated enemy. In the final attack, the men of Ako were a small but committed group of 47 ronin, poised and ready for a surprise attack. Like a tiger stalking its prey, the men were able to attack the residence of the now retired Kira ending the conflict. By this action not only did the men of Ako get revenge on the person who in effect killed their master, but they were able to redeem their names, and the name of the master Lord Asano. Although all 47 ronin were sentenced to death, they were allowed to die in the honorable ceremony of seppuku, or ritual disembowelment. As the men acted together in their common cause they became united in their struggle that eventually lead to their deaths. In their deaths they found peace and comfort in exacting revenge, and redemption and honor in their actions.

The 47 Ronin Story by John Allyn is a wonderful book and is easy to read also. The paperback has a feel to it that makes it readable, yet when you've finished you feel full; content. The amazing (and true) story of these 47 Ronin really makes an impact on the reader and also challenges them, because it makes you ask the question, 'What is honorable?' Some of these samurai became drunks and whore-mongers simply to avenge the honor of their lord. Is that considered right? Does the end really justify the means? With such a revered history in Japan, the story is a must read for anyone who has a love for the Japanese or Samurai culture. The book has depth, it has feeling, and by the end you might feel tired from going on such a journey with those warriors. A wonderful book for a great story, I highly recommend it! :)