We went to the Sengakuji Temple on Thursday before heading off to the town of Kamakura. I wasn’t expecting much but was pleasantly surprised at how interesting it was. It’s a practicing Zen Buddhist (“Soto” school) temple, but the temple’s history is why we visited.
The temple is closely related to the Ako Gishi incident. This is a famous story of avenge in Japanese history which took place between 1701 and 1703. Several films and an opera have been written about it.
Ironically, some(?) Japanese who live in the area don’t know the temple or the story of the 47 ronin. Dennis tried to visit the temple the previous night. A Japanese, who spoke very good English, tried to help with directions but didn’t know about the temple (a few short blocks from the local train station). An explanation of the “47 ronin” was met with a blank expression. Another local asked Chie the next morning why so many foreigners visited the nearby temple. The local said she was embarrassed, as a Japanese, to know nothing about the 47 ronin (Ako Incident). Irony… famous but forgotten. Would Japanese find a similar reaction if they visited Boston and asked locals about Paul Revere, the Boston Tea Party, etc.?
I’ll try to describe the story of the 47 ronin (Ako Incident), briefly …
The temple is closely related to the Ako Gishi incident. This is a famous story of avenge in Japanese history which took place between 1701 and 1703. Several films and an opera have been written about it.
Ironically, some(?) Japanese who live in the area don’t know the temple or the story of the 47 ronin. Dennis tried to visit the temple the previous night. A Japanese, who spoke very good English, tried to help with directions but didn’t know about the temple (a few short blocks from the local train station). An explanation of the “47 ronin” was met with a blank expression. Another local asked Chie the next morning why so many foreigners visited the nearby temple. The local said she was embarrassed, as a Japanese, to know nothing about the 47 ronin (Ako Incident). Irony… famous but forgotten. Would Japanese find a similar reaction if they visited Boston and asked locals about Paul Revere, the Boston Tea Party, etc.?
I’ll try to describe the story of the 47 ronin (Ako Incident), briefly …
Asano Takuminokami, Feudal Lord of Ako, was disliked, mistreated, and disgraced as a samurai by Kira Kozukenosuke, an official advisor of the Shogunate. Asano drew his sword on Kira within the Edo Castle, which was strictly forbidden. According to an “equal punishment for quarrels” law, each of them should have been punished. But Kira received no punishment and Asano was sentenced to death by seppuku (hara-kiri).
The loyal retainers (47 samurai) of the Lord of Ako, better known as Ako Gishi, avenged this injustice 2 years later by killing Kira and marching to Sengakuji to present Kira’s head to Asano’s grave. Then they turned themselves into the Shogunate and were sentenced to seppuku. The temple is the burial place for 46 of the ronin (masterless samurai) who killed Kira as well as the burial site for Ako Gishi. The chivalry of the loyal retainers and the themes of justice and loyalty are said to resonate with Japanese to this day.
1 comment:
I guess there are Japanese ignorant about their history as there are Americans who don't know their's. I do know grown Americans who can't tell me in what century the Civil War was fought nor could some of them name me 10 states out of fifty.
Kira was spared for several reasons. For one, he did not draw a sword and was the "victim" of the assault. For two, he was related to Shogun Yoshimune so he was part of the Shogunate "family".
The 46 captured ronins were praised by everyone, even the Shogun grudging admit their worth but they did defied Shogunate order and killed one of his family members. The usual punishment for them would have been crucifixion but they were allowed to commit suppuku.
Ironically, there was some positive effects after this even after the 46 was sentenced. Asano family did get their fief back although at a smaller scale then before.
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