Warrior: Samurai: Oishi ("The 47 Ronin Story")

In the time of The 47 Ronin Story, Samurai were no longer glorious warriors. With no wars to fight, and no lands to claim for their lords, many Samurai degenerated into men without a calling, and lost their iron-discipline and finely honed fighting skills. Others, without masters, were Ronin, and served as mercenaries, spies, or as general nuisances to society. Despite the weakness of other Samurai, Oishi, the chief retainer of Lord Asano, personifies the Way of the Warrior. Oishi is not just a Samurai: he is the essence of what Samurai should be. He displays loyalty, devotion, and courage throughout his endeavors to avenge Lord Asano.

 Oishi was loyal to Lord Asano to the point of fanaticism, even after Lord Asano’s death. Shortly after the death of Lord Asano, and while Oishi and the other samurai are unsure of their path of action, Oishi is contacted by “several prominent daimyo [who requested his services] as chief retainer, but his dedication to the house of Asano had never been stronger and he answered them all with polite refusals…” (86). Oishi, though he could accept the offers of these powerful lords, and continue to live his life in much the same way he had under the Asano crest, instead chooses to remain dedicated to Lord Asano. As a loyal member of the house of Asano, he refuses to give up in his quest to avenge his deceased lord. The price of this choice is that Oishi becomes a Ronin without a master, and loses his source of income. Oishi is forced to live as best he can with what he has, with his loyalty to Lord Asano his only solace. Oishi forsakes the promise of a relatively peaceful life in exchange for revenge against his master’s enemy. Oishi remains loyal to his deceased master even when it means he himself will suffer.

 Oishi put himself and his family in danger in defense of Lord Asano’s family. After Lord Asano’s death, and the subsequent eviction of his people from the Asano castle, Oishi leaves the castle with his family. He takes with him his wife and children, but “no outsider could have known that one of the three children [with Oishi and his wife] was Lord Asano’s little daughter, whom Oishi had sworn to protect with his life if necessary” (81). Oishi does not know what is going to happen to Lord Asano’s daughter after his lord’s death, but he takes the responsibility upon himself to ensure her safety. Oishi, so the text states, is ready and prepared to protect the girl even if it costs him his life, and places his family in jeopardy. If the Shogun wanted the girl dead, and Oishi was found to have hidden her, he would probably be killed, and his family dishonored, if not worse. Oishi is not required to hide Lord Asano’s daughter. He could have left her to her fate and saved himself the risk and trouble. Instead he does everything in his power to ensure her safety. Oishi’s loyalty to Lord Asano translated into serving his daughter as best he could.

 Oishi was not only loyal to Lord Asano, but was devoted to him. Upon learning of his lord’s death, Oishi travels to the Asano burial grounds and temple. Oishi considers Lord Asano to be the kind of lord and commander he “would follow…anywhere, even to the grave if necessary, and he would have no hesitation in drawing his dirk and joining him…” (55). Oishi, by looking after Lord Asano’s daughter, was loyal, but by being willing to commit suicide for his Lord, he displayed his devotion to his lord. Loyalty requires no goodwill on either side, only duty. Devotion to a master requires a willingness and enthusiasm within loyalty. Duty can compel action, but it takes something more than duty to make a man kill himself for another’s honor. In the case of Oishi, this was his devotion to Lord Asano as a great man and leader. Oishi does not see suicide as an escape from his hard life. Instead, he sees it as a viable political option. The willingness of a man to disembowel himself for his cause and beliefs is very powerful. Being willing to kill himself reveals an amount of commitment and dedication to a cause unparalleled by any other. If all else failed, the suicide of Oishi may have at least given the Shogun pause to think about his actions. But Oishi would rather avenge his lord and make a point than allow the dishonor to continue, with or without driving his point home, and so doesn’t commit seppuku. Oishi is devoted to Lord Asano, and fights on when he could give up and kill himself.

 Oishi displayed his devotion to Lord Asano through his patience and perseverance. Before the confiscation of the Asano castle, Oishi tells his men their choices of action regarding revenge. He says, “’we have but two alternatives: either to kneel before the castle and commit seppuku as a final protest, or to surrender the castle peaceably . . . and then split up and wait until the right moment to take revenge on Kira himself!’” (69). Oishi and his men wait many, many months before finally killing Kira. Some of the Samurai give up, and abandon any hope for revenge. They were loyal, but not devoted. Oishi and others, however, remained steadfast and devoted to justice for Lord Asano, with Oishi the most devoted of all to their cause. Oishi’s devotion to Lord Asano allows him to wait, and wait, and wait until the golden opportunity to kill Kira. Oishi is extremely loyal, but his devotion kept him by Lord Asano’s side even when other loyal men surrendered.

 Oishi, driven by his loyalty and devotion to the House of Asano and Lord Asano, was very courageous in battle, and was even willing to sacrifice his own life. During the assault on Kira’s residence, he is nowhere to be found. Finally, Kira is lured out of hiding, and challenges the invading Samurai. Kira taunts the men of Edo to come at him all at once, but Oishi says, “’Let no one interfere…My ‘pack’ won’t kill you, Lord Kira, but I will” (228). Kira is reputed to be an excellent swordsman, and indeed he proves to be a worthy adversary in his duel with Oishi. Oishi shows his bravery and courage through his willingness to combat Kira single-handed. The easy response to Kira’s challenge would have been for Oishi and his men to kill him without mercy. Instead, Oishi grants Kira at least a small amount of his honor, and fights him one on one. Oishi is willing to put his life in danger, when he need not, for a ‘fair’ fight.

During the assault on Kira’s home, he leads his men fearlessly and courageously. Oishi was “at the head of the column…[with his] assault team[:]…a small group of picked men” (217-221). Many commanders lead their troops from behind the lines, out of danger. It is often said only a very brave and courageous general will lead his men into battle as the head of the spear: at the front of the line. In comparison to today’s world, Oishi is both the Commander in chief of his men, and the point man of a commando strike team during the assault on Kira’s home. Oishi places himself in great danger when other commanders would have happily watched the battle from a safe position. Oishi is not reckless, but he is extremely brave in battle, and a courageous and inspiring leader.

 Oishi was extremely loyal to Lord Asano and to the house of Asano, even after his lord’s death.  He was steadfast in his efforts to avenge Lord Asano. He concealed Lord Asano’s daughter by putting his and his family’s safety at risk, without regret or hesitation. Oishi remained devoted to Lord Asano when other loyal Samurai abandoned his memory and honor. He was willing sacrifice his own life if needed to regain his lord’s besmirched honor, and waited many months for revenge to be his. Oishi was fearless in battle, and led his men from the head of his forces, as only a truly courageous general would. Oishi also agrees to fight an accomplished swordsman one on one in order to keep his honor, when he could easily have sent his men to kill him instead. Oishi was the ultimate warrior. He was Samurai in the truest form of the word, and never strayed from the Way of the Warrior.