忠義

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 忠義 (ちゅうぎ) is a noun for steadfast loyalty and devotion to one’s lord or duty.
• Basic usage: 主君への忠義を貫く makes devotion to a lord what a retainer maintains, while 武士の忠義をたたえる makes a warrior’s loyalty the quality praised in a picture scroll.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Object of loyalty and source of praise
  • In 主君への忠義, the lord is the object of loyalty; in 武士の忠義, the warrior is the bearer of that loyalty. The direction should not be reversed into a lord serving the retainer.