RONIN: WHEN SAMURAI GO ROGUE
Since samurai culture was so heavily invested in the idea of loyalty to a daimyo lord, what happened if a daimyo died?
Some samurai would leave to find a new lord to serve. However, others took the opportunity to wander freely. Samurai who had no master were called ‘ronin’. There was no set rule for what a ronin should do, because he was his own master. Many ronin became ‘swords for hire’ and would fight for any daimyo who was willing to pay. Other ronin became nothing more than robbers and thieves, using their military skills to intimidate peasants.
Some famous ronin include:
Miyamoto Musashi:
He was a legendary swordsman who is considered one of the greatest martial artists of all time. He wrote "The Book of Five Rings", which is still widely read and studied today as a classic treatise on strategy and tactics.
Yamamoto Kansuke:
He was a famous strategist who served as a military advisor to several lords during the Warring States period in Japan. He was known for his clever tactics and strategic thinking, and was widely respected for his wisdom and courage.
Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka:
He was a notorious ronin who was widely feared for his martial abilities and cunning. He was involved in several power struggles and was eventually killed by the legendary ronin Miyamoto Musashi.
Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshio:
He was best known for leading the forty-seven ronin, a group of masterless samurai who sought to avenge the death of their lord. This event is a famous story in Japanese history and is considered a classic example of samurai loyalty and honor.