Grace Thompson
The arrival of Christian missionaries in Japan in the 1540s, led by Francis Xavier and the Jesuits, sparked a period of religious conversion and fragmentation in the country. By the end of the 1500s, Japan had gained nearly 300,000 converts to Catholicism, including members of the nobility. The Jesuits' success in Japan was due in part to their accommodation of Japanese culture and their involvement in trade, which granted them favourable treatment from the authorities. However, the Japanese Church also faced resistance and persecution, particularly as the shoguns and other rulers sought to exert control over religious organizations and viewed foreign influence with suspicion. As a result, Catholicism was banned in Japan at various times, and many Japanese Christians were forced to practice their faith in secret, leading to the emergence of hidden Christian movements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | 17th Century Japan |
| Religion | Catholicism |
| Presence of Catholics | Yes |
| Extent of Catholicism | Small but significant community |
| How did Catholicism arrive in Japan? | By 1600, Catholic missionaries, particularly Jesuits, had made significant inroads into Japan, with an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 converts. |
| Persecution | Anti-Christian edicts were issued by Japanese rulers, leading to the suppression of Christianity and the expulsion of missionaries. |
| Reasons for Persecution | Fear of foreign influence and a desire to consolidate power. |
| Outcome | Catholicism went underground and survived through hidden Christians (Kakure Kirishitan). |
| Modern Estimates of Hidden Christians | Approximately 100,000, mostly in Nagasaki and Shimabara. |
| Present-Day Japanese Catholics | A small minority, approximately 450,000 or 0.36% of the population. |
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What You'll Learn
The arrival of Catholicism in Japan
The first three Japanese converts to Catholicism were encountered by Xavier in India, and they accompanied him to Japan in 1549. During his two-year stay in the country, Xavier founded communities in Kagoshima, Hirado, Yamaguchi, and Funai (Oita), with a total of about 800 Catholics. Xavier was impressed by the Japanese people, writing to St. Ignatius in Rome that:
> "The people whom we have met so far are the best we have discovered anywhere, and it seems that we shall never find another heathen race to equal the Japanese... The Japanese had all the conditions for a peaceful reception of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: a single language, a unified culture, a highly cultivated sense of family and human values."
The Jesuits' success in Japan can be attributed to their ability to navigate the country's political landscape and maintain economic self-sufficiency. They relied on the consent of local lords, such as Otomo Yoshishige, the most influential daimio in Kyushu, who assured protection for the missionaries. Additionally, the Jesuits engaged in trade with Japan, which helped cover the necessary expenses of their missionary work.
By 1579, there were about 130,000 Catholic converts in Japan, and by the end of the 16th century, there were nearly 300,000. In 1603, Jesuit estimates put the number of converts at 200,000-300,000, with 190 churches and 122 Jesuits in activity. However, the Japanese government began to persecute Christians in the latter half of the 1500s, and the Catholic Church faced increasing resistance from the country's rulers. Emperor Ogimachi issued edicts to ban Catholicism in 1565 and 1568, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who became imperial regent in 1587, ordered the expulsion of all foreign missionaries from Japan.
Despite these challenges, the Catholic Church continued to grow in Japan, and by 1614, there were an estimated 400,000 Christians in the country. However, severe persecution continued under the shogunate of Tokugawa Hidetada, who banned Christianity and ordered the expulsion of missionaries in 1620. Many Catholics went underground, becoming hidden Christians or "Kakure Kirishitan", while others were exiled or executed.
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The growth of the Catholic Church in Japan
The arrival of Christian missionaries in Japan in the mid-16th century, led by Francis Xavier, marked the beginning of the Catholic Church's growth in the country. Xavier, accompanied by Jesuits, landed in Kagoshima in 1549 and established communities in Kagoshima, Hirado, Yamaguchi, and Funai (Oita), with a total of about 800 Catholics. By the end of the 1500s, Japan had nearly 300,000 converts, including members of the nobility, something unprecedented in other Asian cultures. The Jesuits' success can be attributed to their strategy of "adaptationism", which prioritised the advancement of the Christian faith over strict adherence to traditional Christian practices, allowing them to avoid cultural conflicts by compromising with local customs.
The Jesuits' influence continued to grow, and by 1579, there were about 130,000 converts. However, their success also attracted competition from other religious orders, such as the Franciscans, and tensions between different European trading interests. The Japanese were wary of foreign influence, and when the pope sent the Franciscans to Japan, their aggressive evangelising methods infuriated the local shogun. In 1597, he had a group of Christians marched to Nagasaki, where he crucified several Franciscans, Jesuits, and Japanese Christians. Despite this tragedy, the Japanese mission by 1603 had become the largest overseas Christian community not under European rule, with an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 converts, 190 churches, and 122 Jesuits.
By 1614, the Japanese Church faced severe obstacles due to Ieyasu's edicts. European priests were ordered to gather in Nagasaki for deportation, churches were destroyed, and Japanese converts were forced to renounce their faith under threat of torture or exile. The Tokugawa shogunate's ban on Christianity in 1620 effectively ended its public existence, driving many Catholics underground as hidden Christians (Kakure Kirishitan). Despite the risks, some Japanese Christians persevered, and in 1865, a group of descendants of 17th-century Christians was discovered in Nagasaki, having preserved their faith secretly for two centuries.
In summary, the growth of the Catholic Church in Japan during the 1600s was marked by initial rapid expansion due to successful Jesuit missionary work and adaptationist strategies. However, increasing persecution, particularly under the Tokugawa shogunate, dealt a severe blow to the Church's growth, forcing it underground. The resilience of hidden Christians, who preserved their faith despite persecution and a lack of priests, is a testament to the enduring influence of Catholicism in Japan.
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The Jesuits and their influence
The Jesuits, led by Francis Xavier, first arrived in Japan in 1549. They established several communities in Kagoshima, Hirado, Yamaguchi, and Funai (Oita). By the end of the 1500s, there were nearly 300,000 converts to Christianity in Japan, including members of the nobility. The Jesuits were successful in their missionary work due to several factors. Firstly, they approached local rulers and sought their consent and protection for their activities, which was crucial in a country without a central authority at the time. They also adapted to local customs, such as limiting their meat consumption and adopting Japanese bathing practices, which helped them fit better into Japanese society. Additionally, the Jesuits engaged in trade activities, which brought them economic benefits and favourable treatment from the authorities.
However, the Jesuits' presence in Japan was not without challenges. They faced resistance from the highest office holders in the country, such as Emperor Ōgimachi, who issued edicts to ban Catholicism in 1565 and 1568. There were also tensions with the Buddhist clergy, with the Jesuits often accusing Buddhist monks of laziness and immorality. Additionally, zealous Christian converts destroyed Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, straining the Jesuits' relationship with Japanese authorities.
The Jesuits' influence in Japan reached a turning point in the early 17th century. In 1614, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had unified Japan in 1600, ordered all missionaries out of the country and forbade the practice of Christianity. This marked the beginning of a period of persecution for Japanese Christians, who were forced to publicly renounce their faith or face torture and execution. Many Jesuits went underground to continue their ministry, but their influence was greatly diminished.
Despite the expulsion of the Jesuits and the repression of Christianity, a small group of Japanese Christians preserved their faith in secret for centuries. Known as "hidden Christians" or "kakure kirishitan", they risked persecution, exile, and even death to maintain their religious beliefs. It was not until the Meiji Restoration that Christianity was re-established in Japan, and religious freedom was officially granted in 1873.
Overall, the Jesuits had a significant influence on the spread of Christianity in Japan during the 1600s. Their missionary work laid the foundation for a thriving Christian community, and their adaptation to local customs and engagement in trade activities helped them gain a foothold in Japanese society. However, their success was short-lived due to political and religious opposition, and their influence was ultimately curtailed by the expulsion of missionaries and the persecution of Japanese Christians.
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Persecution of Japanese Catholics
The arrival of Francis Xavier and the Jesuits in the 1540s marked the beginning of Christianity in Japan. By the end of the 1500s, there were nearly 300,000 converts to the faith, including members of the nobility. The shogunate and imperial government initially supported the Catholic mission, believing it would reduce the power of the Buddhist monks and foster trade with European powers. However, as the number of converts grew, so did the suspicion of foreign influence.
In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the imperial regent, banned Jesuit missionaries from Japan, viewing Christianity as a threat to national unity. Despite this, the Jesuits continued to operate in Japan, and by 1603, the Japanese mission had become the largest overseas Christian community not under European rule, with an estimated 200,000-300,000 converts.
Hideyoshi's son took a more aggressive stance towards Christianity. In 1597, he had 26 Christians, including missionaries and Japanese laypeople, executed by crucifixion in Nagasaki. This marked the beginning of a wave of persecution that would last for over two centuries.
In 1614, the Tokugawa shogunate banned Christianity, and all European priests were ordered to gather in Nagasaki for deportation. Christian churches were destroyed, and Japanese converts were forced to renounce their faith under threat of death. Despite the risks, a small community of ""hidden Christians," known as Kakure Kirishitan, continued to practice their faith in secret, passing it down through the generations.
The persecution of Japanese Catholics was characterized by forced marches, crucifixions, and public executions. One notorious method of identifying hidden Christians was called the "fumie," where people were forced to stomp on crucifixes or images of the Virgin Mary, with those refusing facing imprisonment or death. It is estimated that up to half a million Christians suffered and died during the 250 years of persecution.
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The Japanese Catholic resistance
The arrival of Francis Xavier and the Jesuits in the 1540s marked the beginning of Catholic missionary activities in Japan. By the end of the 1500s, Japan had nearly 300,000 converts to Catholicism, including members of the nobility and many daimyōs in Kyushu. However, this success was met with resistance from the highest office holders of Japan, who saw Christianity as a threat to national unity. Emperor Ōgimachi issued edicts to ban Catholicism in 1565 and 1568, but these had little effect.
In 1587, imperial regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued the Bateren edict, banning Jesuit missionaries from Japan. Despite this, Jesuit missionaries remained in Japan and even planned armed resistance, seeking help from Kirishitan daimyōs and requesting reinforcements from their homeland. However, they eventually decided to disarm themselves and continued to provide secret support to the Kirishitan daimyōs.
In 1597, 26 Christians, including Franciscan missionaries, Japanese Jesuits, and Japanese laymen, were executed by crucifixion in Nagasaki. This sparked outrage, and Pope Pius IX declared them martyrs. The persecution of Christians continued, and in 1614, all European priests were ordered to gather in Nagasaki for deportation, and Christian churches were ordered to be destroyed. Japanese converts were forced to renounce their Christianity, and being a Christian became a capital offense.
Despite the dangers, many Japanese Catholics refused to give up their faith and went underground, becoming hidden Christians known as kakure kirishitan. They recruited leadership from among lay members and continued to practice their religion in secret. The city of Nagasaki remained a Christian city in the first decades of the 17th century, and confraternities were founded in Shimabara and Kinai. However, the Buddhist ecclesiastical establishment implemented the "temple guarantee system," requiring people to produce a certificate of affiliation with a Buddhist temple to prove their loyalty to the regime.
The resistance of the Japanese Catholics was met with increasing brutality from the shoguns, who used methods such as exile, torture, and public executions to eradicate Christianity from Japan. It is estimated that as many as half a million Christians suffered and died during 250 years of persecution. Despite the risks, the Japanese Catholic community persevered and passed on their faith from generation to generation until Christianity was finally re-established in Japan after the Meiji Restoration.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there were Japanese Catholics in the 1600s. In 1614, there were an estimated 400,000 Christians in Japan. However, the Japanese Church's growth was hampered by Ieyasu's anti-Christian edicts, which forbade daimios and nobles from embracing Christianity.
Catholicism was introduced to Japan by the Jesuits in the 1540s, shortly after the arrival of the first Portuguese traders in the country. Francis Xavier, a pioneer of Catholic missions in Japan, played a significant role in the initial spread of Catholicism.
Japanese Catholics faced significant persecution in the 1600s. The Tokugawa shogunate banned Christianity in 1620, forcing many Catholics to go underground and practice their faith in secret. They were known as Hidden Christians or "Kakure Kirishitan." Those who refused to renounce their faith faced exile, torture, or execution.
