Sengakuji Temple, Tokyo, Japan, Graves of 47 Ronins

Sengaku-ji 泉岳寺 is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in the Takanawa neighborhood of Minato-ku, near Sengakuji Station and Shinagawa Station, Tokyo, Japan. Sengakuji was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of Edo era, in 1612 near Edo Castle as an establishment of Dogen’s tradition. However, after only 30 years, it was devastated by fire and this led to a reconstruction at the present site. History The temple became famous through the Akō incident of the forty-seven Rōnin in the 18th century. The tomb of Lord Asano Takumi-no-Kami Naganori is located here, who was forced to commit ritual suicide after he broke protocol and drew a sword in the Edo Castle. His retainers the forty-seven Rōnin led by Oishi Kuranosuke avenged his death, washed his opponent`s head in a water well and presented it on the altar in front of his tomb. Afterwards they were ordered by the Shogun to commit ritual suicide and were also buried here next to their master. Their story became famous through the Kabuki epic Chūshingura and their graves became a popular site of pilgrimage. Each year on December 14, the temple holds a festival commemorating the 47 Rōnin.

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