The Joou Incident

In September 1652 (Shoo 1), a group of ronin led by Betsuki Shozaemon (Tetsugi Shozaemon) planned an attempted robbery. The gang set fire to the area around Zojoji Temple on a windy night just after the completion of the memorial service for the 27th anniversary of the death of Tokugawa Hidetada's wife, with the aim of stealing the donations and incense money given at the temple, and then tried to break into the temple itself in the confusion. It is also said that they had the intention of shooting at the Shogunate elders who rushed to the temple to supervise the firefighting, and that the gang numbered between 200 and 300 people, but the truth of the matter remains unknown. Before the end of the memorial service, one of the group filed a lawsuit, and they were arrested by the town magistrate, and on September 21, they were paraded around Edo and crucified, and their family members were executed for their involvement. The plaintiff, Nagashima Gyobu, was a retainer of a samurai lord, but was given a reward of 500 koku and became a direct retainer.

[Akira Takagi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1652年（承応1）9月、別木庄左衛門(べつきしょうざえもん)（戸次庄左衛門）ら浪人が企てた集団強盗未遂事件。江戸増上寺(ぞうじょうじ)で行われた徳川秀忠(ひでただ)夫人の二十七回忌法会に集まった布施(ふせ)や香典を奪う目的で、結願(けちがん)直後の風の激しい夜を選んで同寺周辺に放火し、どさくさに紛れて寺内に侵入しようとしたもの。さらに、消火の指揮に駆けつけた幕府老中たちを鉄砲で狙撃(そげき)し、幕府を倒す意図があったとも、一味は200～300人であったとも伝えられるが、真相は不明である。法会結願の前に一味のうちから訴人があり、一味は町奉行(まちぶぎょう)によって捕らえられ、9月21日江戸引廻(ひきまわ)しのうえ磔(はりつけ)にされ、一味の一族は連座して死刑にされた。訴人の長嶋刑部(ながしまぎょうぶ)は旗本の家来であったが、恩賞500石を与えられて直参(じきさん)となった。

［高木昭作］

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