Takuminokami [Lord Asano] struck at Közukenosuke [Lord Kira] out of personal resentment and anger, thereby going against the Great Law. Because of this the shogun condemned him to death. How can anyone think of "avenging" such a man? When we consider his feelings, of course, his resentment and anger may be entirely understandable, but if he wanted to harm Közukenosuke [Lord Kira], he should have done that after his assignment was over and choosing a more appropriate place. But he chose to violate the Great Law in the midst of the Great Imperial Rite of receiving the imperial messengers.

Worse, the way Takuminokami [Lord Asano] struck at Közukenosuke [Lord Kira], it was such a hasty, immature, cowardly deed. He drew his short sword behind Közukenosuke [Lord Kira] who was discussing something with Kajikawa Yosobei and slashed at him as he tried to run away. But the wounds were too shallow to bring death to the man, and he himself was captured by Kajikawa . With no courage and no skill, Takuminokami [Lord Asano] is merely a fellow to be laughed at. It's quite fitting that he should have been condemned to death, and his castle and other properties confiscated.

On his part, Közukenosuke [Lord Kira] wouldn't draw his short sword but simply fell in consternation, his face pale, prompting samurai throughout the land to laugh at him. His reaction was worse than death, an utter disgrace. Why should the shogun have punished him? Evidently he wasn't an enemy worthy of vengeance.

Nonetheless, those forty-six men, rather than sorrowing over the great crime of their master, decided to go against the shogunate will: They equipped themselves with weapons and used passwords and identification marks as in a battlefield to make the killing. That, too, was a great crime. Still, if, after they carried out their killing single-mindedly (preoccupied as they were with the thought of their deceased lord's fury) if, after that, they had reflected on the crime of having gone against the shogunate will and committed suicide at Sengaku Temple -- while they wouldn't have acted in accordance with law, they would at least have deserved our pity.

Instead, they reported their act to Inspector-General Sengoku, saying that they would await a shogunate order. Also, in the letter they provided they said they respected shogunate authority, and to Sengoku himself the first thing they said was that they respected shogunate authority. What could these things have meant other than a scheme to win praise, escape death, and gain employment? Having violated the Great Law and gone against shogunate authority, they had nothing to report on, nothing for which to await an order. What they did was not what those prepared to die would do. These men rose out of the anger that they had been made masterless wanderers; they employed calculation and conspiracy to cayy out their aim. They did what they did not mainly out of loyalty, not because of acute pain.

from Sato, Legends of the Samurai