{"id":1007,"date":"2011-01-18T01:59:40","date_gmt":"2011-01-18T01:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/?p=1007"},"modified":"2011-01-18T01:59:40","modified_gmt":"2011-01-18T01:59:40","slug":"the-47-ronin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/the-47-ronin\/","title":{"rendered":"The 47 R\u014dnin"},"content":{"rendered":"

The shij\u016b shichishi (\u56db\u5341\u4e03<\/strong>\u58eb<\/strong>) or the forty seven r\u014dnin, were a legendary band of samurais who displayed the ultimate form of loyalty and sacrifice. The story of the forty seven r\u014dnin is called ch\u016bshingura (\u5fe0\u81e3<\/strong>\u8535<\/strong>). Although the ch\u016bshingura is a widely loved story, it\u2019s a fictional story, and there is little evidence that the forty seven r\u014dnin existed in real life. Nevertheless, the story is a national legend and popular portrayals of the forty seven r\u014dnin exist in Japanese movies and theater.<\/p>\n

First and foremost, a r\u014dnin (\u6d6a<\/strong>\u4eba<\/strong>) is a samurai without a master. In the case of the forty seven samurais, they became r\u014dnin when their master was forced to commit seppuku (\u5207<\/strong>\u8179<\/strong>). Seppuku is suicide by disembowelment. The forty seven samurais all swore an oath to avenge their master\u2019s death by killing the official who had ordered their master\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

The forty seven samurais were bound by a code of honor that required them to defend their master\u2019s honor by fighting to the death. They knew that by killing the official they would have to commit seppuku for committing murder. However, they were still determined to carry out their revenge, even if it meant that they had to die. Their undying loyalty is what makes this story appealing to those who want to go back to a time when honor meant everything.<\/p>\n

There are is a special day reserved to honor the deaths of the forty seven r\u014dnin.<\/p>\n

Every December 14th<\/sup>, there is a ceremony where incense is burned to commemorate the deaths of the forty seven r\u014dnin:<\/p>\n