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| Loyalty to one's lord was the most important aspect
of Bushido, it was very unusual for
a samurai not to have a lord. Ronin, were
the result of the death of their lord. Many who where unable to find
new employment with a daimyo allowed themselves to be hired by rich
merchants as bodyguards. Others sank to became rogues or robbers.
All of them were poor, and some were even forced to sell their katana
(long sword). This was the worst shame for a samurai, to part with
his sword. Such sword less ronin usually put on imitation swords made
of bamboo, called takemitsu. |
The Forty Seven
Ronin:
In 1701, Lord Asano of Ako, a minor Daimyo,
was ordered to commit seppuku because
of a quarrel with one of the Shogun's retainers, Kira
Yoshinaka. Honour bound, he obeyed and ended his life. Now
leaderless, 47 of his samurai, led by Oishi Kuranosuke,
(Asano's chief steward) decided that their duty was to kill the retainer
who had slighted their lord. Their fate was decided, in 1703 they
killed Yoshinaka and in turn were duly ordered to commit seppuku.
They died together at the Tokyo temple, Sengaku-Ji.
Their loyalty was greatly admired and their graves remain regularly
visited. |
Their devotion remembered |
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