Persecution of Christians in Japan
Encyclopedia
After the first landing of Portuguese sailors in Japan
in 1542, Christian proselyting led by Francisco Xavier started. In the following decades, many thousands of Japanese, including some princes' families, converted to Roman Catholicism in the form known as Kirishitan
with the cooperation of the central government forming at that time.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
formally expelled the missionaries from the country in 1587, since he saw the influence of Jesuite, but above all Franciscan, monks as a threat to his position of power. For economic reasons, however, this decree was hardly enforced. Not until 1597, a year before Hideyoshi's death, were 26 Christians crucified (Martyrs of Nagasaki).
Hideyoshi's successor Tokugawa Ieyasu
initially was tolerant because he profited from trade with the Portuguese, and probably also by the influence of his British consultant Williams Adams
. But after Adams' death and after trade relations with Holland and England had had come into existence (by which also the conflict between Roman Catholic Christianity and Protestantism
became known in Japan), he changed his attitude. The reason for this was the fear of Christian faith wars in Japan and the cognition that many Christians show greater loyalty among themselves and for the church than for him, the Shōgun
. From about, 1612 Christianity was gradually prohibited.
This development reached its highlight under Ieyasu's successors Tokugawa Hidetada
and Tokugawa Iemitsu
, particularly after the predominantly Christian population of Kyūshū
had risen in the Shimabara Rebellion
against the shogunate in 1637. The uprising was crushed brutally; more than 40,000 Christians were killed. Authorities of persecution were set up, with the goal of a nationwide persecution and extermination of the Christians. Anyone who was suspected of being a Christian had to abandon Christianity publicly and dishonor Christian symbols, which were called 踏み絵 (fumie
, "step-on picture'"), as well as register in the Buddhist register of faith of Buddhist temples and visit those regularly. Those who refused to abandon their Christian faith were executed, often through public crucifixion
or incineration.
Japanese Christianity evolved during this phase of peresecution to a new syncretic religion, Kakure Kirishitan
, with influences of Buddhism
, Taoism
, and Shinto
. After the re-admission of Christianity (in 1873 under Tenno Meiji), the followers of this faith integrated into the emerging Christian congregations, but some refused this, as their heavily modified religion was not accepted by Western church organizations. They now are a dwindling minority, but whose religious ideas live on in several so-called new religions.
's novel Silence.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1542, Christian proselyting led by Francisco Xavier started. In the following decades, many thousands of Japanese, including some princes' families, converted to Roman Catholicism in the form known as Kirishitan
Kirishitan
, from Portuguese cristão, referred to Roman Catholic Christians in Japanese and is used as a historiographic term for Roman Catholics in Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries. Christian missionaries were known as bateren or iruman...
with the cooperation of the central government forming at that time.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
formally expelled the missionaries from the country in 1587, since he saw the influence of Jesuite, but above all Franciscan, monks as a threat to his position of power. For economic reasons, however, this decree was hardly enforced. Not until 1597, a year before Hideyoshi's death, were 26 Christians crucified (Martyrs of Nagasaki).
Hideyoshi's successor Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
initially was tolerant because he profited from trade with the Portuguese, and probably also by the influence of his British consultant Williams Adams
William Adams (sailor)
William Adams , also known in Japanese as Anjin-sama and Miura Anjin , was an English navigator who travelled to Japan and is believed to be the first Englishman ever to reach that country...
. But after Adams' death and after trade relations with Holland and England had had come into existence (by which also the conflict between Roman Catholic Christianity and Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
became known in Japan), he changed his attitude. The reason for this was the fear of Christian faith wars in Japan and the cognition that many Christians show greater loyalty among themselves and for the church than for him, the Shōgun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
. From about, 1612 Christianity was gradually prohibited.
This development reached its highlight under Ieyasu's successors Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.-Early life :...
and Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
, particularly after the predominantly Christian population of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
had risen in the Shimabara Rebellion
Shimabara Rebellion
The was an uprising largely involving Japanese peasants, most of them Catholic Christians, in 1637–1638 during the Edo period.It was one of only a handful of instances of serious unrest during the relatively peaceful period of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule...
against the shogunate in 1637. The uprising was crushed brutally; more than 40,000 Christians were killed. Authorities of persecution were set up, with the goal of a nationwide persecution and extermination of the Christians. Anyone who was suspected of being a Christian had to abandon Christianity publicly and dishonor Christian symbols, which were called 踏み絵 (fumie
Fumie
A was a likeness of Jesus or Mary upon which the religious authorities of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan required suspected Christians to step in order to prove that they were not members of that outlawed religion. The use of fumi-e began with the persecution of Christians in Nagasaki in 1629...
, "step-on picture'"), as well as register in the Buddhist register of faith of Buddhist temples and visit those regularly. Those who refused to abandon their Christian faith were executed, often through public crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
or incineration.
Japanese Christianity evolved during this phase of peresecution to a new syncretic religion, Kakure Kirishitan
Kakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
, with influences of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, and Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
. After the re-admission of Christianity (in 1873 under Tenno Meiji), the followers of this faith integrated into the emerging Christian congregations, but some refused this, as their heavily modified religion was not accepted by Western church organizations. They now are a dwindling minority, but whose religious ideas live on in several so-called new religions.
Media
The missionary experience and the persecutions are portrayed in Shusaku EndoShusaku Endo
Shūsaku Endō was a 20th-century Japanese author who wrote from the unusual perspective of being both Japanese and Catholic...
's novel Silence.