This incident is also commonly known as 'Chushingura' (The treasury of Loyal Retainers); however, the name does not indicate the actual event, since it came from a ningyo joruri (traditional Japanese puppet theater) play as well as a kabuki (traditional performing art) play called 'Kanadehon Chushingura' (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) and the general term for other related materials.
この事件は一般に「忠臣蔵」の名でも知られているが、この名称は本件を題材とした人形浄瑠璃と歌舞伎の『仮名手本忠臣蔵』の通称、およびそこから派生したさまざまな作品群の総称であり、本件自体を指す語ではない。