Chūshingura

Chūshingura(Trung thần tàng,The Treasury of Loyal Retainers)is the title given to fictionalized accounts in Japanese literature, theater, and film that relate to the historical incident involving theforty-sevenrōninand their mission to avenge the death of their master,Asano Naganori.Including the earlyKanadehon Chūshingura(仮 danh thủ bổn trung thần tàng),the story has been told inkabuki,bunraku,stage plays, films, novels, television shows and other media. With ten different television productions in the years 1997–2007 alone,Chūshinguraranks among the most familiar of all historical stories inJapan.

Historical events

Ukiyo-eprint byUtagawa Kuniterudepicting the assault of Asano Naganori on Kira Yoshinaka in theMatsu no Ōrōkaof Edo Castle in 1701, an incident that triggered the tragedy of theForty-sevenrōnin

Main article:Forty-seven rōnin

The historical basis for the narrative began in 1701. The rulingshōgunTokugawa Tsunayoshiplaced Asano Takumi-no-kami Naganori, thedaimyōofAkō,in charge of a reception of envoys from theImperial Court in Kyoto.He also appointed the protocol official (kōke)Kira Kōzuke-no-suke Yoshinakato instruct Asano in the ceremonies. On the day of the reception, atEdo Castle,Asano drew hisshort swordand attempted to kill Kira. His reasons are not known, but many have suggested that an insult may have provoked him. For this act, he was sentenced to commitseppuku,but Kira did not receive any punishment. The shogunate confiscated Asano's lands (theAkō Domain) and dismissed thesamuraiwho had served him, making themrōnin.

Nearly two years later,Ōishi Kuranosuke Yoshio,who had been a high-ranking samurai in the service of Asano, led a group of forty-six/forty-seven of therōnin(some discount the membership of one for various reasons). They broke into Kira's mansion inEdo,captured and killed Kira, and laid his head at the grave of Asano atSengaku-ji.They then turned themselves in to the authorities, and were sentenced to commitseppuku,which they all did on the same day that year. Ōishi is the protagonist in most retellings of the fictionalized form of what became known as the Akō incident, or, in its fictionalized form, the Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chūshingura).

In 1822, the earliest known account of the Akō incident in the West was published inIsaac Titsingh's posthumous book,Illustrations of Japan.

Religious significance

In the story of the 47rōnin,the concept ofchūshin gishiis another interpretation taken by some.Chūshin gishiis usually translated as "loyal and dutiful samurai". However, as John Allen Tuckerpoints out that definition glosses over the religious meaning behind the term. Scholars during that time used that word to describe people who had given their lives for a greater cause in such a way that they deserved veneration after death. Such people were often entombed or memorialized at shrines.

However, there is a debate on whether they even should be worshiped and how controversial their tombs at Sengakuji are. Tucker raises a point in his article that therōninwere condemned asrōnin,which was not an honorable state, but in the end their resting places are now honored. In other words, it is as if those that regarded therōninaschūshin gishiwere questioning the decision of the Bakufu (the shogunate, the authorities who declared themrōnin), and perhaps even implying that the Bakufu had made a mistake. Those recognizing therōninaschūshin gishiwere really focusing on the basics of samurai code where loyalty to your master is the ultimate and most sacred obligation.

In Chinese philosophy, Confucius used to say that the great ministers served their rulers the moral way. Early Confucianism emphasized loyalty, the moral way and objection and legitimate execution of wrongdoers.Chūshin gishiis interpreted as almost a blind loyalty to your master. In theBook of Rites,something similar tochūshin gishiis mentioned which is called zhongchen yishi. Interpretations of the passage from the Book identified those who would sacrifice themselves in the name of duty should live on idealized. However, there were also those such as Ogyū Sorai, that agreed on condemnation of therōninas criminals. Sorai, Satō Naokata, and Dazai Shundai were some of those who believed that therōninwere merely criminals and murderers with no sense of righteousness, since they did violate the law by killing Kira Yoshinaka. So definitely there was controversy revolving around the legitimacy of therōnins'actions.

Confucianism and the deification of therōninscollision is something that is very important to the way to understanding Bakufu law. Confucian classics and the Bakufu law may have seemed to complement each other to allow revenge. Hayashi Hōkō claims that the idolization of therōninmay have been allowed because their actions matched with the Chinese loyalists. Also suggesting that only by killing themselves would they be able to claim their title aschūshin gishi.Hokō summarized that there might have been a correlation between the law and the lessons put forth in Confucian classics.

Actually during the seventeenth century there was a system of registered vendettas. This meant that people could avenge a murder of a relative, but only after their plans strictly adhered to legal guidelines. However, the Akō vendetta did not adhere to this legalized system. Thus, they had to look to Confucian texts to justify their vendetta.Chūshin gishiis something that cannot be looked on lightly in regards to this story because it is the main idea in this story. Loyalty and duty to one's master as a retainer is everything in the story of the 47rōnin.

Being able to draw Confucianist values from this story is no coincidence, it is said that Asano was a Confucian. So it would only seem natural that his retainers would practice the same thing. Their ultimate sacrifice for their master is something that is held in high regard in Confucianism because they are fulfilling their responsibility to the fullest extent. There is nothing more after that kind of sacrifice. At that point the warriors have given their everything to their master. That type of devotion is hard to contest as something other than being achūshin gishi.

Bunraku

Main article:Kanadehon Chūshingura

The puppet play based on these events was entitledKanadehon Chūshinguraand written byTakeda Izumo(1691–1756),Miyoshi Shōraku(c. 1696 – 1772)andNamiki Senryū(1695 – c. 1751).It was first performed in August 1748 at theTakemoto-zatheater in theDōtonborientertainment district inOsaka,and an almost identical kabuki adaptation appeared later that year. The title means "Kanapractice book Treasury of the loyal retainers ". The" kana practice book "aspect refers to the coincidence that the number ofrōninmatches the number ofkana,and the play portrayed therōninas each prominently displaying one kana to identify him. The forty-sevenrōninwere the loyal retainers of Asano; the title likened them to a warehouse full of treasure. To avoid censorship, the authors placed the action in the time of theTaiheiki(a few centuries earlier), changing the names of the principals. The play is performed every year in both the bunraku and kabuki versions, though more often than not it is only a few selected acts which are performed and not the entire work.

• 
  Utagawa Kuniyoshi,The Monster's Chūshingura (Bakemono Chūshingura),ca. 1836,Princeton University Art Museum,Acts 9–11 of the Kanadehon Chūshingura with act nine at top right, act ten at bottom right, act eleven, scene 1, at top left, act eleven, scene 2 at bottom left
• 
  Utagawa Kuniyoshi,The Monster's Chūshingura (Bakemono Chūshingura),ca. 1836,Princeton University Art Museum,Acts 5–8 of the Kanadehon Chūshingura with act five at top right, act six at bottom right, act seven at top left, act eight at bottom left
• 
  Utagawa Kuniyoshi,The Monster's Chūshingura (Bakemono Chūshingura),ca. 1836,Princeton University Art Museum,Acts 1–4 of the Kanadehon Chūshingura with act one at top right, act two at bottom right, act three at top left, act four at bottom left

Films, television dramas, and other productions

December is a popular time for performances ofChūshingura.Because the break-in occurred in December (according to the old calendar), the story is often retold in that month.

Films

The history ofChūshinguraon film began in 1907, when one act of a kabuki play was released. The first original production followed in 1908.Onoe Matsunosukeplayed Ōishi in this ground-breaking work. The story was adapted for film again in 1928. This version,Jitsuroku Chūshingura,was made by film-makerShōzō Makinoto commemorate his 50th birthday. Parts of the original film were destroyed when fire broke out during the production. However, these sequences have been restored with new technology.

ANikkatsufilm retold the events to audiences in 1930. It featured the famousŌkōchi Denjirōin the role of Ōishi. Since then, three generations of leading men have starred in the role. Younger actors play Asano, and the role of Aguri, wife (and later widow) of Asano, is reserved for the most beautiful actresses. Kira, who was over sixty at his death, requires an older actor. Ōkōchi reprised the role in 1934. Other actors who have portrayed Ōishi in film includeBandō Tsumasaburō(1938), and Kawarasaki Chōjūrō IV (1941). In 1939,Kajirō YamamotofilmedChushingurain two parts with his then assistant directorAkira Kurosawa.The two parts were titledChushingura (Go)(1939) andChushingura (Zen)(1939).

In 1941 the Japanese military commissioned directorKenji Mizoguchito makeThe 47 Ronin.They wanted a ferocious morale booster based upon the familiarrekishi geki( "historical drama" ) of "The Loyal 47 Ronin". Instead, Mizoguchi chose for his sourceMayama Chushingura,a cerebral play dealing with the story.The 47 Roninwas a commercial failure, having been released in Japan one week before theAttack on Pearl Harbor.The Japanese military and most audiences found the first part to be too serious, but the studio and Mizoguchi both regarded it as so important that Part Two was put into production, despite Part One's lukewarm reception. The film was celebrated by foreign scholars who saw it in Japan; it was not shown in the United States until the 1970s.

During theoccupation of Japan,theGHQbanned performances of the story, charging them with promoting feudal values. Under the influence ofFaubion Bowers,the ban was lifted in 1947. In 1952, the first film portrayal of Ōishi byChiezō Kataokaappeared; he took the part again in 1959 and 1961.Matsumoto Kōshirō VIII(later Hakuō),Ichikawa Utaemon,Ichikawa Ennosuke II,Kinnosuke Yorozuya,Ken TakakuraandMasahiko Tsugawaare among the most noteworthy actors to portray Ōishi.

The story was told again in the 1962Tohoproduction by the acclaimed directorHiroshi InagakititledChūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki.The actorMatsumoto Kōshirōstarred as ChamberlainŌishi KuranosukeandToshiro Mifunealso appeared in the film. The actressSetsuko Hararetired following her appearance as Riku, wife of Ōishi.

Other film versions include the 1978 adventure drama directed byKinji Fukasakuand calledThe Fall of Ako Castle,or the 1985Chūshingura: Vendetta of Obligationdirected byMasuda Toshioand the 2010Chūshingura (Sono Otoko Oishi Kuranosuke)directed bySaizo KoseiwithTamura Masakazu.

The Hollywood film47 Roninby Universal is a fantasy epic with Keanu Reeves as an Anglo-Japanese who joins the samurai in their quest for vengeance against Lord Kira who is aided by a shape-shifting witch, and co-stars many prominent Japanese actors includingHiroyuki Sanada,Tadanobu Asano,Kō Shibasaki,Rinko Kikuchi,Jin Akanishi,andTogo Igawa.It was originally scheduled to be released on November 21, 2012, then moved to February 8, 2013, due to creative differences between Universal and director Carl Rinsch, requiring the inclusion of additional scenes and citing the need for work on the 3D visual effects. It was later postponed to December 25, 2013, to account for the reshoots and post-production. Consistently negative film reviews of this film rendition considered it to have almost nothing in common with the original play.

Television dramas

The 1964NHKTaiga dramaAkō Rōshiwas followed by no fewer than 21 television productions ofChūshingura.Toshirō Mifunestarred in the 1971DaichūshinguraonNET,and Kinnosuke Yorozuya crossed over from film to play the same role in 1979, also on NET. In 1990,TBSaired a production of Chūshingura, starringTakeshi KitanoandMiho Nakayama,among others.Tōge no Gunzō,the third NHK Taiga drama on the subject, starredKen Ogata,and renowned directorJuzo Itamiappeared as Kira. In 2001, Fuji TV made a four-hour special of the story starringTakuya Kimuraas Horibe Yasubei (one of the Akōrōnin) andKōichi Satōas Ōishi Kuranosuke, calledChūshingura 1/47.In 2004, the nine-episode mini-seriesChūshinguradirected bySaito Mitsumasawas broadcast.Kōtarō Satomi,Matsumoto Kōshirō IX,Beat Takeshi,Tatsuya Nakadai,Hiroki Matsukata,Kin'ya Kitaōji,Akira Emoto,Akira Nakao,Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII,Ken Matsudaira,andShinichi Tsutsumiare among the many stars to play Ōishi.Hisaya Morishige,Naoto Takenaka,and others have portrayed Kira.Izumi Inamoristarred as Aguri (Yōzeiin), the central character in the ten-hour 2007 specialChūshingura Yōzeiin no Inbō.

The 1927 novel byJirō Osaragiwas the basis for the 1964 Taiga dramaAkō Rōshi.Eiji Yoshikawa,Seiichi Funahashi,Futaro Yamada,Kōhei Tsuka,and Shōichirō Ikemiya have also published novels on the subject.Maruya Saiichi,Motohiko Izawa,and Kazuo Kumada have written criticisms of it.

An episode of thetokusatsushowJuken Sentai Gekirangerfeatures its own spin on the Chūshingura, with the main heroes being sent back in time and Kira having been possessed by aRin Jyu Kenuser, whom they defeat before the Akō incident starts, and thus not interfering with it.

Ballet

The ballet choreographerMaurice Béjartcreated a ballet work called "The Kabuki" based on the Chushingura legend in 1986, and it has been performed more than 140 times in 14 nations worldwide by 2006.

Opera

The story was turned into an opera,Chūshingura,byShigeaki Saegusain 1997.

Popular music

"Chushingura" is the name of an instrumental track byJefferson Airplanefrom itsCrown of Creationalbum.

Books

Jorge Luis Borges' 1935 short story "The Uncivil Teacher of Court Etiquette Kôtsuké no Suké" (inA Universal History of Iniquity) is a retelling of theChūshingurastory, drawn from A. B. Mitford'sTales of Old Japan(London, 1912).

A 1982comic booklimited series,written byChris Claremontand drawn byFrank Miller,WolverineVol. 1, has thetitularsuperheroobserve a private stage production in the course of a mission. The cast turn out to be actually assassins ordered to killMariko Yashidaand her husband, forcing Wolverine to intervene to stop them.

A graphic novel/manga version, well researched and close to the original story, has been written bySean Michael Wilsonand illustrated by Japanese artist Akiko Shimojima:The 47 Ronin: A Graphic Novel(2013).

A limited comic book series based on the story entitled47 Ronin,written byDark Horse ComicspublisherMike Richardson,illustrated byUsagi YojimbocreatorStan Sakaiand withLone Wolf and CubwriterKazuo Koikeas an editorial consultant, was released by Dark Horse Comics in 2013.

The Tokaido Road(1991) byLucia St. Clair Robsonis an historical adventure novel linked to the story by a fictional daughter of the murdered lord, searching for her father's loyal men so she can take part in the revenge.

Anime

• Episode 113 ofLupin III Part 2has Lupin visited by an old man who he doesn't realize is the ghost of Kira Yoshinaka, who employs him to help him look for a treasure. It turns out the treasure they were looking for is Kira's false teeth, which he needs to cross over into the next world. The rest of the episode parodies the play, with a chief named Asano being fired for lashing out at a man who insulted him and the devoted if accident-prone Zenigata willingly taking on the Oishi role to avenge him.

See also

• Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki
• Matsu no Ōrōka

Bibliography

• Brandon, James R."Myth and Reality: A Story of Kabuki during American Censorship, 1945–1949",Asian Theatre Journal, Volume 23, Number 1, Spring 2006, pp. 1–110.
• Cavaye, Ronald, Paul Griffith and Akihiko Senda. (2005).A Guide to the Japanese Stage.Tokyo:Kodansha International.ISBN978-4-7700-2987-4
• Dickins, Frederick V.(trans.),Chiushingura, or The Loyal League. A Japanese Romance. With Notes and an Appendix(1875; 2nd ed. Allen & Co., 1880)
• Tân giếng chính nghĩa ( biên tập giả ) 『 Nhật Bản sử sự điển 』. Đông Kinh: Vượng văn xã 1987 (p. 87)
• Takeuchi, Rizō( biên ) 『 Nhật Bản sử tiểu từ điển 』. Đông Kinh:Kadokawa Shoten1985, pp. 349–350.
• Forbes, Andrew; Henley, David (2012).Forty-Seven Ronin: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi Edition.Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN: B00ADQGLB8
• Forbes, Andrew; Henley, David (2012).Forty-Seven Ronin: Utagawa Kuniyoshi Edition.Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN: B00ADQM8II
• Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005).Japan Encyclopedia.Cambridge:Harvard University Press.ISBN978-0-674-01753-5;OCLC 48943301
• Screech,Timon. (2006).Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779–1822.London:RoutledgeCurzon.ISBN978-0-7007-1720-0(cloth);ISBN978-0-203-09985-8(electronic)
• Postel, Philippe (2019), Les Vaillants d'Akô. Le mythe des quarante-sept rônins au Japon et en Occident.Paris: Classiques Garnier, "Perspectives comparatistes", 81.ISBN978-2-406-07273-7.Postel, Philippe (2017), Les Quarante-sept rônin. Histoire d'un mythe en estampes.Nantes: Editions du château des ducs de Bretagne.ISBN978-2-906519-64-0.

External links

• Chushingura at IMDB