Ako Incident In Japanese Culture

In Japan today, the Ako incident of 1703 represents the heart and soul of Japanese society; based on the teaching of Confucius, it embodies the honor, loyalty, and spirit of the Samurai, qualities that are forever imprinted on Japanese culture. During its great and rather turbulent history, the 47 Ronin Incident or Ako Incident is one of the most beloved in Japanese history. The Chingura, as it is called in Japanese, is a tale of kinship, honor, and “crooked government officials.” (Ronin Gallery) It is not a wholly unique event to any other story of poor government and standing up for your beliefs.
Honor, one of the tenets of Confucius, is an aspect of Japanese society that has been embedded in their culture for centuries. It continues to be one of the greatest values to this day. Because the Samurai code is based on ideas of Confucianism, a Samurai’s honor transcends all …show more content…
Bushido is roughly translated to “way of the warrior” and represents the characteristics of an ideal warrior and embodies the Spirit of the Samurai. In Japan, this defined the ways and ideas of the Samurai. It determined how they acted in times of conflict and in peace. One of the tenants of Bushido calls for a warrior to fight to the death as a means to preserve the honor of their family or of their lord. (47 Ronins) This is clearly demonstrated by the ronin who gave up their lives in order to restore honor to their leader. Overtime Bushido concepts continued to be expressed through “both through the educational system and by propagandists to fuel Japanese nationalism, as the country pursued its international ambitions and also grappled with the powerful forces of Western individualism.”(PBS) Today, the teachings and ideals of Bushido have changed along with Japan, but the basic principles remain the same, “downplaying individualism” and instead demonstrating loyalty and honor to the country, your family, and your