47 Ronin

The 47 ronin, also known as the Ako vendetta, were a group of samurai in feudal Japan who became famous for their revenge against a court official named Kira Yoshinaka. In 1701, Kira had insulted and provoked one of the samurai, Asano Naganori, who then drew his sword and attacked Kira in Edo Castle. Asano was ordered to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for his crime, and his lands were confiscated by the shogunate.

After Asano's death, his former retainers, led by Oishi Kuranosuke, spent more than a year planning their revenge against Kira. On December 14, 1702, they attacked Kira's mansion in Edo and killed him, then presented his head at the grave of their lord. The 47 ronin were subsequently arrested and ordered to commit seppuku for their crime, but their actions earned them widespread admiration and sympathy throughout Japan.

The story of the 47 ronin has been the subject of numerous plays, films, and books, and is considered a classic tale of loyalty, honor, and revenge in Japanese culture. Their story is known as "Chushingura," or "The Treasury of Loyal Retainers."