The 47 Ronin: A Story of Honor, Loyalty, and Revenge
The story of the 47 Samurai - or more accurately, the 47 Ronin - is one of Japan's most enduring legends. It's a true tale of honor, loyalty, betrayal, revenge, and consequence that has inspired countless plays, films, and artworks.
In this post, we'll explore the real events behind the story and look at how Japan's greatest ukiyo-e artists—from Hokusai to Kuniyoshi—brought this drama to life through woodblock prints.
Japan in 1702: The World of the 47 Ronin
The Ako Incident took place in 1702, during Japan’s Edo period. While Japan was flourishing under Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi—nicknamed the Dog Shogun—the rest of the world looked quite different:
- The first British daily newspaper had just been published.
- The War of the Spanish Succession was raging in Europe.
- Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg.
- Yale University was established in the American colonies.
At that time, Japan was perhaps the most urbanized and cultured society in the world, ruled with precision by the Tokugawa shogunate.
(Curious about Tsunayoshi’s nickname? Watch my video, “My Three Favorite Shoguns.”)
The True Story of the 47 Ronin
Our story begins with Lord Asano Naganori, daimyo of the Ako domain. He offended a powerful court official named Kira Yoshinaka, who retaliated by purposely humiliating him in the Shogun’s palace.
Unable to endure the insult, Asano drew his sword—an act strictly forbidden in the palace—and struck at Kira.
Lord Asano confronting Kira inside the Shogun’s palace.
This was a grave offense. Asano was immediately ordered to commit seppuku—ritual suicide by the sword—to preserve his honor.
Lord Asano preparing for seppuku, symbolizing honor through sacrifice.
After Asano’s death, his retainers became ronin—masterless samurai. Their leader, Oishi Kuranosuke, and 46 loyal comrades swore vengeance.
For eighteen months, they trained and planned in secret. Then, on a freezing night in January 1702, they attacked Kira’s mansion, fought his guards, found Kira hiding in a shed, and offered him the chance to die honorably. When he refused, they beheaded him and brought his head to their master’s grave.
They then surrendered. The Shogun granted them the right to die with honor—each was ordered to commit seppuku.
How the Legend Became a National Phenomenon
For decades, the Ako Incident was remembered quietly. Then, in 1748, the story exploded in popularity when it was adapted for Osaka’s puppet theater as Kanadehon Chushingura (A Kana Primer for the Treasury of Loyal Retainers).
It was a sensation. The dramatized version added romance, intrigue, humor, and tragedy, transforming the revenge tale into a cultural epic. Soon after, it was adapted for the Kabuki stage and became one of Japan’s most-performed stories.
From there, the ukiyo-e artists of Edo Japan immortalized the tale in thousands of woodblock prints—each capturing loyalty and justice in their own artistic language.
The Three Main Types of 47 Ronin Prints
Ukiyo-e prints inspired by the 47 Ronin generally fall into three categories:
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Chushingura Prints – Scenes from stage or puppet performances, often labeled by act (Act I, Act II, etc.).
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47 Ronin Prints – Depictions of the ronin as historical warriors, not actors.
- Parodies of the Loyal Retainers – Creative interpretations featuring geisha, courtesans, or even animals as stand-ins for the samurai.
A Visual Journey Through the Artists
Katsukawa Shunshō
Shunshō’s bold, angular style and expressive faces defined early actor portraiture. His Fans of the East series captures the spirit of Kabuki heroes.
Actor portrait from “Fans of the East,” by Katsukawa Shunshō (1771).
Katsushika Hokusai
Hokusai’s prints focus on the Night Attack—the story’s climactic battle. His dynamic compositions and attention to movement make the ronin’s strategy and fury palpable.
Hokusai’s depiction of the Night Attack on Kira’s mansion.
Kitagawa Utamaro
In Chushingura Drama Parodied by Famous Beauties, Utamaro reimagines the ronin as elegant women. His delicate lines and grace turn vengeance into refined art.
Utamaro’s parody series, where courtesans stand in for the 47 ronin.
Utagawa Kunisada
Kunisada was a master of theatrical energy. His Participants in the Night Attack highlights the sawtooth-patterned kimono—a recurring symbol of the 47 ronin.
Kunisada’s dramatic capture of Kira by the ronin.
Ando Hiroshige
Best known for his landscapes, Hiroshige also created about ten series on the 47 Ronin, usually scenes from Kabuki plays rendered in his trademark horizontal ōban format.
Image: Hiroshige’s Kabuki-inspired 47 Ronin print.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
A legend among warrior-print artists, Kuniyoshi produced more than twenty series based on the 47 Ronin. His work ranged from erotic shunga to fantastical monster versions like The Monster Chushingura (1839).
Image: Kuniyoshi’s “Monster Chushingura,” a playful twist on the revenge tale.
His 1847 series Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai set a new standard—each warrior posed against a sparse background with biographical text wrapping the figure.
Character portrait from Kuniyoshi’s 1847 series.
Toyohara Kunichika
Kunichika’s colorful portraits bring a modern vibrancy to the ronin, bridging Edo-period tradition and Meiji-era theatricality.
Kunichika’s dynamic portrait of a loyal retainer.
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
In Historical Biographies of the Loyal Retainers, Yoshitoshi continued Kuniyoshi’s visual legacy with a more psychological and expressive touch.
Yoshitoshi’s portrait of Oishi Kuranosuke, captain of the 47 ronin.
Kawanabe Kyōsai
Known for his humor and imagination, Kyōsai’s series Japanese Brocades from the Genroku Era offers one of the most bloody interpretations of the ronin saga.
Kyōsai’s bold print from “Japanese Brocades from the Genroku Era.”
The Legacy of the 47 Ronin
This isn’t just folklore—the events of 1702 are historically documented through confessions, preserved weapons, and even a receipt for Kira’s head.
Only one ronin survived: Terasaka Kichiemon, pardoned by the Shogun for his minor role. He lived to old age and was buried with his comrades.
Each year, on December 14, Tokyo’s Sengakuji Temple—where Asano and the ronin are interred—hosts a festival commemorating their loyalty and sacrifice.
The well in which Kira's head was washed, at Sengakuji Temple, Tokyo.
The Death Poem of Lord Asano
Before his seppuku, Lord Asano wrote this farewell poem:
“More than the cherry blossoms,
Inviting a wind to blow them away…
I am wondering what to do,
With the remaining springtime.”
Conclusion
The story of the 47 Ronin transcends time. It’s a perfect blend of historical truth, moral complexity, and artistic inspiration—one that continues to captivate audiences and collectors alike.
Whether you’re exploring ukiyo-e prints, studying samurai history, or simply drawn to tales of loyalty and justice, the 47 Ronin remains one of Japan’s most profound cultural touchstones.
Click here to see our collection of 47 Ronin prints.
Thanks for reading—and happy collecting.