47 Ronin

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.” Romans 12:19a

In 2013, Hollywood released the film “47 Ronin” which was loosely based on a famous event in Japan and starred Keanu Reeves. In the ensuing years, this well-chronicled historical incident gained notoriety through several plays and numerous movie versions. As the title indicates, the story centers around rōnin, or former samurai who have been relegated to social outcast status in Japan’s feudal class system.  This loss of prestige is usually due to the death or disgrace of a samurai’s master. Rōnin (浪人) literally means “wandering wave person” and the term is now commonly applied to other societal misfits or wanderers. In modern Japan, the word rōnin is frequently used to describe unemployed white-collar workers or high school graduates who have not been accepted by a university.

According to ancient traditions, a samurai was given the opportunity to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) upon the loss of his master rather than endure a life without honor or status as a rōnin. To do otherwise invited shame, but many rōnin became mercenaries, joined the merchant class or got involved in criminal activities. However, the story of the 47 rōnin was an extreme exception to this pattern.

The legendary tale of these unusual rōnin began with the forced seppuku of Asano Naganori, a minor feudal lord who had assaulted a powerful court official named Kira Yoshinaka in April 1701. However, contrary to accepted traditional patterns, 47 of Asano’s samurai refused to accept their fate and secretly vowed to avenge the death of their master. Led by a samurai named Ōishi, they agreed to disperse and take on ordinary roles as tradesmen and monks to lull their enemy into complacency. Over a year later, on January 31, 1703, the 47 rōnin broke through Kira’s lax defenses and succeeded in killing him, carrying out their intricate plan for vengeance. Knowing that authorities would not condone their vendetta, this band of dedicated rōnin proceeded to place Kira’s severed head on their master’s tomb in the Sengaku-ji Temple and then laid down their weapons in surrender. These infamous assailants were then ordered to commit seppuku, which only served to further cement their legendary status throughout Japan. As Asano’s devoted retainers, the 47 rōnin were ceremonially buried near their master, which over time, become a place of veneration due to their enduring example of loyalty, perseverance, honor and sacrifice.

Although there are many noble attributes associated with this famous tale, the darker motive of revenge primarily drives the narrative. While it is certainly true that the name and honor of Asano Naganori was restored through the heroic deeds of his loyal subjects, they too had something to gain. Their honor as samurai was preserved, a wrong was avenged and their names live on in history. But this does not overlook that the essence of revenge is basically rooted in selfishness where one tries to get even for a personal wrong suffered at the hands of corrupt or uncaring people. The core premise of revenge is that another form of evil must be used to counteract evil.

However, the Scriptures call us to pursue a higher alternative based on faith and grounded in the character of God. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) The very act of revenge requires one to assume the role of God, dispensing justice and retribution based upon personal slights and a limited understanding of transpired events. We live in a world that seems dominated at times by injustice and lies, but we must remember that ultimate justice and truth are God’s exclusive domain. As an act of faith, we must leave these matters in His hands and to His Son, who was shamed like a rōnin but died on our behalf. The cross paradoxically represents both justice and injustice. It is an unprecedented story, with only one hero, who changed the course of not just history, but eternity.