ABSTRACT
The following two documents concern the case of two samurai brothers whose father had been murdered. The first document is a daimyo’s official’s report to a local official of the Tokugawa shogunate informing him of the request of two brothers from his domain to seek out and kill the man who had murdered their father. It also makes note of the fact that the father’s brother had also, separately, sought permission to avenge his slain elder brother. The second document is the letter authorizing the two sons to embark on their mission. A separate letter of authorization—not included here—was sent to the murdered man’s brother, praising him, granting him leave and permission to assist his nephews, and giving him an increase in stipend. It also makes note of the fact that domain officials had given the eldest son a valuable sword and a considerable sum of money (20 ryō) to help him achieve his mission.
