Final Statement of the 47 Ronin

This material is in public domain.

Final Statement of The 47 Ronin of Ako as translated by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (1837–1916), Lord Redesdale, British Ambassador to Japan

(Excerpt from the book “Tales of Old Japan” published in 1871)

Note: The author, Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (1837–1916), Lord Redesdale,
was in the British Foreign Service as a young man. He was assigned to the
legation in Japan for several years and acquired a life-long fascination with
Japanese culture. This book has been a standard source of information about
Japanese folklore and customs since its original publication in 1871 and has
been in print ever since.

Explanatory letter carried by each of the 47 men:

"Last year, in the third month, Asano Takumi no Kami, upon the occasion of the
entertainment of the Imperial ambassador, was driven, by the force of
circumstances, to attack and wound my Lord Kotsuke no Suke in the castle, in
order to avenge an insult offered to him. Having done this without considering
the dignity of the place, and having thus disregarded all rules of propriety,
he was condemned to hara-kiri, and his property and castle of Ako were
forfeited to the State, and were delivered up by his retainers to the officers
deputed by the Shogun to receive them. After this his followers were all
dispersed. At the time of the quarrel the high officials present prevented
Asano Takumi no Kami from carrying out his intention of killing his enemy, my
Lord Kotsuke no Suke. So Asano Takumi no Kami died without having avenged
himself, and this was more than his retainers could endure. It is impossible
to remain under the same heaven with the enemy of lord or father; for this
reason we have dared to declare enmity against a personage of so exalted rank.
This day we shall attack Kira Kotsuke no Suke, in order to finish the deed of
vengeance which was begun by our dead lord. If any honourable person should
find our bodies after death, he is respectfully requested to open and read
this document."

-15th year of Genroku. 12th month.

Signed, 
OISHI KURANOSUKE, 
Retainer of Asano Takumi no Kami, and forty-six others.

Letter which the Forty-seven Ronin laid upon the tomb of their master, together with the head of Kira Kotsuke no Suke:—

“The 15th year of Genroku, the 12th month, and 15th day. We have come this day
to do homage here, forty-seven men in all, from Oishi Kuranosuke down to the
foot-soldier, Terasaka Kichiyemon, all cheerfully about to lay down our lives
on your behalf. We reverently announce this to the honoured spirit of our dead
master.

On the 14th day of the third month of last year our honoured master was
pleased to attack Kira Kotsuke no Suke, for what reason we know not. Our
honoured master put an end to his own life, but Kira Kotsuke no Suke lived.
Although we fear that after the decree issued by the Government this plot of
ours will be displeasing to our honoured master, still we, who have eaten of
your food, could not without blushing repeat the verse, 'Thou shalt not live
under the same heaven nor tread the same earth with the enemy of thy father or
lord,' nor could we have dared to leave hell and present ourselves before you
in paradise, unless we had carried out the vengeance which you began.

Every day that we waited seemed as three autumns to us. Verily, we have
trodden the snow for one day,   nay, for two days, and have tasted food but
once. The old and decrepit, the sick and ailing, have come forth gladly to lay
down their lives. Men might laugh at us, as at grasshoppers trusting in the
strength of their arms, and thus shame our honoured lord; but we could not
halt in our deed of vengeance.

Having taken counsel together last night, we have escorted my Lord Kotsuke no
Suke hither to your tomb. This dirk,[7] by which our honoured lord set great
store last year, and entrusted to our care, we now bring back. If your noble
spirit be now present before this tomb, we pray you, as a sign, to take the
dirk, and, striking the head of your enemy with it a second time, to dispel
your hatred for ever. This is the respectful statement of forty-seven men.”

Final Statement of Oishi Chikara, age 16:

“I humbly thank your lordship for what you have been pleased to say. My father
warned me from the first that our crime was so great that, even were we to be
pardoned by a gracious judgment upon one count, I must not forget that there
would be a hundred million counts against us for which we must commit suicide:
and that if I disregarded his words his hatred would pursue me after death. My
father impressed this upon me at the temple called Sengakuji, and again when I
was separated from him to be taken to the palace of Prince Sengoku. Now my
father and myself have been condemned to perform hara-kiri, according to the
wish of our hearts. Still I cannot forget to think of my mother. When we
parted at Kiyoto, she told me that our separation would be for long, and she
bade me not to play the coward when I thought of her. As I took a long leave
of her then, I have no message to send to her now.” 

-Oishi Chikara's final statement before committing seppuku at the residence of Matsudaira Oki no Kami. Lord Matsudaira had offered to deliver a message to Chikara's mother, but he politely declined. It is said that that Lord Matsudaira and his men wept after hearing his final words. Oishi Chikara was 16 years old.

Final letter of one of the men:

"The day has come. I think the revenge will be complete within 3 days from
today. For the last 2 years, we did our best and now we face the act of
vengeance. I think our wish is fulfilled and all who will participate are
excited. Kira is prepared for our attack, so whether we win or lose will
depend on luck.
"As I said before I won't think it unpleasant or reproachful whatever
punishment is given to us by Kogi.  Even if my dead body is shown, I think my
duty will be fulfilled because my dead body will demonstrate Samurai loyalty
to the entire country and it will strengthen their resolve."

-Onodera Junai's final letter to his wife in Kyoto.

"We, the ronin serving Asano Takumi no Kami, this night will break into the
mansion of Kira Kotzuke no Suke to avenge our master. Please be assured that
we are neither robbers nor ruffians and no harm will befall the neighboring
property."

-Placard the 47 ronin posted the night they avenged the death of their lord. (Allyn, 1970, p. 223)

See also

• Bushido, an ethical code of conduct, developed in the 12th to 14th centuries in Japan