Chris Lee:Too Much Honor to Live

The Treasury of Loyal Retainers

The Treasury of the Loyal Retainers captures the essence of loyalty so valued in Japanese Samurai culture during the Tokugawa period. In the woodblock print “The Capture of Moronao by the 46 Ronin” by Utagawa Hiroshige, the ronin’s months of hard, secretive work have finally paid off by the capture of their rival daimyo who contributed to the seppuku of their master. This print is depicted in a way where the focus is on the daimyo struggling under the will of some of the ronin instead of taking the honorable way out of seppuku.  In this very moment we have the exhilaration of a completed mission and the fulfilling of a moment sought after for so long.

This moment is just 1 of many taken from the Chushingura, a fictional Japanese story based on real life events surrounding Asano Naganorai and Kira Yoshinaka. The historical context of Chushingura is extremely relevant seeing that it is almost identical to the actual events. Names were changed, but the story holds integrity by sticking with historical facts. Moronao is obviously Yoshinaka, and this specific scene of his capture resonated heavily with citizens of Japan because it’s the climax of a story that personifies their ultimate quest for loyalty even if it meant knowingly going into your death.

During the Tokugawa period, the way of the Samurai, or Hagakure, was the code to live by and it states, “The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, there is only the quick choice of death. It is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance.” Even if their death was delayed, they were still able to adhere to Hagakure in achieving their honorable death. While the 46 ronin did relate to the people by this part of the code, I think they have a stronger relation with this portion of the Hagakure, “A man is a good retainer to the extent that he earnestly places importance in his master. This is the highest sort of retainer.” By remaining loyal to their daimyo even after death, they show that they are the most loyal of retainers. I think that remaining loyal in death, more so that the fact that they died for their actions is why the Japanese relate with the story of the 46 ronin.

This story was adapted to mainstream culture for the Japanese people. It was written in order to remember an event that personifies the way that people during the Tokugawa period wanted to live. The first adaptation of this event was a Bunraku play done by Takeda Izumo and Miyoshi Shoraku in 1748. It was adapted for entertainment, but the political undertones of loyalty and sacrifice are the main topics here. These were such highly valued characteristics that they spilled over into the plays that people attended. By knowing that this story is based on historical events, it gives you an insight into the Tokugawan views of the world around them and the characteristics that they place the most value on.

Sources Used

Yamamoto, T. (2000). Hagakure (2a. ed.). Barcelona: Obelisco.

Takeda Izumo, Miyoshi Shoraku, Namiki Senryu, Chusingura, trans. Donald Keene. New York: Columbia University Press, 1971, 176.