► KirishitanKirishitan ( (吉利支吉利支丹丹 , , 切支丹切支丹 ) meant ) meant Christian(s) in Christian(s) in Japanese and is Japanese and is today used as a today used as a historiographic term historiographic term for Christians in for Christians in Japan in the 16th Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries.and 17th centuries.

► The missionary The missionary activities of activities of Catholicism in Japan Catholicism in Japan were started in 1549 were started in 1549 and exclusively and exclusively performed by performed by Portugal-sponsored Portugal-sponsored Jesuits until Spain-Jesuits until Spain-sponsored orders sponsored orders gained access to gained access to Japan. Japan.

► The activities of Roman The activities of Roman Catholicism were Catholicism were sponsored by the sponsored by the kingdoms of Portugal kingdoms of Portugal and Spainand Spain. Proselytizing . Proselytizing was an integral part of was an integral part of expanding their expanding their territories or influence. territories or influence. By the permission of By the permission of the Pope, they divided the Pope, they divided the non-Christian world the non-Christian world between themselves.between themselves.

► Portugal and Spain Portugal and Spain disputed about the who disputed about the who got to exploit Japan. got to exploit Japan. Since neither could Since neither could colonize it, colonize it, the exclusive the exclusive right to spread right to spread Christianity in Japan Christianity in Japan meant the exclusive right meant the exclusive right to trade with Japanto trade with Japan. . Portugal-sponsored Portugal-sponsored Jesuits took a lead in Jesuits took a lead in proselytizing in Japan proselytizing in Japan over Spaniards. over Spaniards.

► This recognition of This recognition of reality was approved reality was approved by Pope Gregory by Pope Gregory XIII's papal bull of XIII's papal bull of 15751575, which decided , which decided that Japan belonged that Japan belonged to the Portuguese to the Portuguese diocese of Macao diocese of Macao (across the bay from (across the bay from Hong Kong). Hong Kong).

► In 1588 the diocese of Funai In 1588 the diocese of Funai (Nagasaki)(Nagasaki) was founded under the was founded under the protection of the Portuguese king. protection of the Portuguese king. Thus the Portuguese saw Japan as a Thus the Portuguese saw Japan as a "province that belonged to the "province that belonged to the conquest of the Portuguese." conquest of the Portuguese."

► In rivalry with Jesuits, Spain-sponsored In rivalry with Jesuits, Spain-sponsored Christian orders sneaked into Japan via Christian orders sneaked into Japan via Manila. While criticizing Jesuit activities, Manila. While criticizing Jesuit activities, they actively lobbied the Pope. Their they actively lobbied the Pope. Their campaigns resulted in Pope Clement VIII's campaigns resulted in Pope Clement VIII's decree of 1600 that allowed Spanish decree of 1600 that allowed Spanish friars to enter Japan via the Portuguese friars to enter Japan via the Portuguese Indies, and Indies, and Pope Paul V's decree of 1608 Pope Paul V's decree of 1608 that abolished the restrictions on the that abolished the restrictions on the routeroute..

► The Portuguese The Portuguese accused Spanish accused Spanish Jesuits of working for Jesuits of working for their homeland their homeland instead of Christ. instead of Christ. The power struggle The power struggle between Jesuits and between Jesuits and the other religious the other religious orders caused a orders caused a schism within the schism within the diocese of Funai. diocese of Funai.

►The Roman Catholic world order was The Roman Catholic world order was challenged by the Netherlands and challenged by the Netherlands and England. This furthered divided the England. This furthered divided the Christians, since these two countries Christians, since these two countries were officially Protestant.were officially Protestant.

► Japan built trade relations with the Japan built trade relations with the Netherlands and England. Although Netherlands and England. Although England withdrew from the operations England withdrew from the operations in ten years due to lack of profitability, in ten years due to lack of profitability, the Netherlands continued to trade the Netherlands continued to trade with Japanwith Japan and became the only and became the only European country that maintained European country that maintained trade relations with Japan until the trade relations with Japan until the 19th century. 19th century.

► Jesuits believed that it Jesuits believed that it was very effective to was very effective to seek to influence people seek to influence people in power and thereby in power and thereby force the religion down force the religion down the throats of the the throats of the commonerscommoners. It is . It is confirmed that as feudal confirmed that as feudal lords converted to lords converted to Catholicism, the number Catholicism, the number of believers in their of believers in their territories was drastically territories was drastically increased.increased.

►Historians presume forced conversion of Historians presume forced conversion of the commoners although Christians would the commoners although Christians would claim that massive conversion resulted claim that massive conversion resulted from influence of their lords' "exemplary from influence of their lords' "exemplary behavior", not from forced conversion. behavior", not from forced conversion. The degree of their religious sincerity The degree of their religious sincerity became clear became clear when their rulers gave up when their rulers gave up the religion or were overthrown and the the religion or were overthrown and the vast number of Christians deserted the vast number of Christians deserted the churches. churches.

► The Jesuits in Japan had The Jesuits in Japan had to maintain economic to maintain economic self-sufficiency because self-sufficiency because they could not expect they could not expect stable and sufficient stable and sufficient payment from their payment from their patron, the King of patron, the King of Portugal. Alternatively, Portugal. Alternatively, the king allowed Jesuits the king allowed Jesuits to engage in to engage in Portuguese trade with Portuguese trade with Japan. Japan.

► Such economic activity Such economic activity can be found in Francis can be found in Francis Xavier, the pioneer of Xavier, the pioneer of Catholic missions in Catholic missions in Japan. He covered the Japan. He covered the cost of missionary work cost of missionary work by selling pepper by selling pepper obtained in Malacca. obtained in Malacca. From 1550s to 70s, From 1550s to 70s, Jesuits covered all Jesuits covered all necessary expense with necessary expense with trade profits and bought trade profits and bought land in India.land in India.

► The Jesuits’ officially recognized commercial activity The Jesuits’ officially recognized commercial activity was a fixed-amount entry into the Portuguese silk was a fixed-amount entry into the Portuguese silk trade between Macau and Nagasaki. They financed trade between Macau and Nagasaki. They financed to a certain amount a trade association of Macau to a certain amount a trade association of Macau which purchased raw silk in Canton and sold it in which purchased raw silk in Canton and sold it in Nagasaki, the center of Christianity in Japan. Nagasaki, the center of Christianity in Japan.

► The Jesuits did not The Jesuits did not confine their confine their commercial activity to commercial activity to the official one but the official one but expanded into expanded into unauthorized markets. unauthorized markets. For the Macau-For the Macau-Nagasaki trade, they Nagasaki trade, they dealt silk fabrics, gold, dealt silk fabrics, gold, musk and other goods. musk and other goods. In other words, they In other words, they became smugglersbecame smugglers..

► It was mainly It was mainly procurators procurators who who brokered Portuguese brokered Portuguese tradetrade. They resided in . They resided in Macau and Nagasaki, Macau and Nagasaki, and sold to Japanese and sold to Japanese customers such as the customers such as the shogunate. Jesuits could shogunate. Jesuits could expect not only rebates expect not only rebates but also favorable but also favorable treatments from the treatments from the authorities. For this authorities. For this reason procurator reason procurator became an important became an important post amongst Jesuits in post amongst Jesuits in Japan. Japan.

► At the same time, At the same time, Portuguese merchants Portuguese merchants required required procuratorsprocurators who who were familiar with were familiar with Japanese customs as Japanese customs as they established no they established no permanent trading post permanent trading post in Japan. Probably the in Japan. Probably the most notable procurator most notable procurator was Joao Rodrigues, who was Joao Rodrigues, who even participated in the even participated in the administration of administration of Nagasaki. Nagasaki.

► Missionaries were not reluctant to take a military Missionaries were not reluctant to take a military action if they considered it an effective way to action if they considered it an effective way to Christianize Japan.Christianize Japan. They often associated military They often associated military action against Japan with the conquest of China. They action against Japan with the conquest of China. They thought that well-trained Japanese soldiers who had thought that well-trained Japanese soldiers who had experienced long civil wars would help western experienced long civil wars would help western countries conquer China.countries conquer China.

► For example, the Jesuit For example, the Jesuit procurator Alessandro procurator Alessandro Valignano persuaded Valignano persuaded Philippine Governor that Philippine Governor that it was impossible to it was impossible to conquer Japan because conquer Japan because the Japanese were very the Japanese were very brave and always brave and always received military received military training but that Japan training but that Japan would benefit them would benefit them when they would when they would conquer China. conquer China.

►Francisco Cabral also reported to the Francisco Cabral also reported to the King of Spain that priests were able to King of Spain that priests were able to send to China two or three thousand send to China two or three thousand Japanese Christian soldiers who were Japanese Christian soldiers who were brave and were expected to serve the brave and were expected to serve the king with little pay.king with little pay.

►The Jesuits provided various kinds of The Jesuits provided various kinds of support including military support to support including military support to Kirishitan daimyo when they were Kirishitan daimyo when they were threatened by non-Kirishitan daimyo. threatened by non-Kirishitan daimyo.

►When the shogun issued the first ban When the shogun issued the first ban on Catholicism in 1587, the Jesuits in on Catholicism in 1587, the Jesuits in Japan planned armed resistance. At Japan planned armed resistance. At first they sought help from Kirishitan first they sought help from Kirishitan daimyo but the daimyo refused. Then daimyo but the daimyo refused. Then they called for a deployment of they called for a deployment of reinforcements from their homeland reinforcements from their homeland and colonies. and colonies.

► But this plan was But this plan was abolished by abolished by Valignano. Like Valignano. Like Kirishitan daimyo, he Kirishitan daimyo, he realized that a realized that a military campaign military campaign against the powerful against the powerful ruler would bring ruler would bring catastrophe to catastrophe to Catholicism in Japan. Catholicism in Japan. In 1590 the Jesuits In 1590 the Jesuits decided to stop decided to stop intervening in intervening in struggles between struggles between daimyo, and to daimyo, and to disarm themselvesdisarm themselves. .

► It seems that the Jesuits It seems that the Jesuits had no military plan had no military plan during the Edo period during the Edo period since they realized that since they realized that the Tokugawa the Tokugawa shogunate was much shogunate was much stronger and more stronger and more stable than the previous stable than the previous administration. In administration. In contrast, other Christian contrast, other Christian orders relatively openly orders relatively openly discussed military discussed military options. In 1615 a options. In 1615 a Franciscan emissary of Franciscan emissary of the Viceroy of New the Viceroy of New Spain asked the shogun Spain asked the shogun for land to build a for land to build a Spanish fortress and Spanish fortress and deepened Japan's deepened Japan's suspicion against suspicion against Catholicism.Catholicism.

►When the Jesuit priest Francis Xavier When the Jesuit priest Francis Xavier arrived, Japan was experiencing a arrived, Japan was experiencing a nationwide civil war.nationwide civil war. Neither the Neither the emperor nor the Ashikaga shogun emperor nor the Ashikaga shogun could exercise power over the nation. could exercise power over the nation.

► At first Xavier At first Xavier planned to gain planned to gain permission for permission for building a mission building a mission from the emperor from the emperor but was disappointed but was disappointed with the devastation with the devastation of the imperial of the imperial residence. The residence. The Jesuits approached Jesuits approached daimyo in daimyo in southwestern Japan southwestern Japan and succeeded in and succeeded in converting some of converting some of these daimyo.these daimyo.

► In 1587 the shogun In 1587 the shogun banned the ruling class banned the ruling class from converting to from converting to Catholicism as he was Catholicism as he was concerned that forced concerned that forced conversion by them conversion by them made peasants made peasants dangerous rebelsdangerous rebels like like the ikko ikki sect of the ikko ikki sect of earlier years. At the earlier years. At the same time he put same time he put Nagasaki under his Nagasaki under his direct control to control direct control to control Portuguese trade. In Portuguese trade. In 1597, 26 Kirishitan 1597, 26 Kirishitan followers were executed followers were executed in Nagasaki at in Nagasaki at Hideyoshi's order. Hideyoshi's order.

► The Tokugawa The Tokugawa shogunate finally shogunate finally decided to ban decided to ban Catholicism in 1612.Catholicism in 1612. This marked the end This marked the end of open Christianity of open Christianity in Japan. The in Japan. The immediate cause of immediate cause of the prohibition was a the prohibition was a case of fraud but case of fraud but there were also other there were also other reasons behind it. reasons behind it. The shogunate was The shogunate was concerned about concerned about possible invasion by possible invasion by Iberian colonial Iberian colonial powers, as had powers, as had happened in China.happened in China.

► Non-religious researchers find it difficult to treat Non-religious researchers find it difficult to treat martyrdom as history. Instead of giving detailed martyrdom as history. Instead of giving detailed accounts, they just point out the rate of accounts, they just point out the rate of martyrdoms; martyrdoms; there were a thousand martyrs at there were a thousand martyrs at most whereas the number of Christians at their most whereas the number of Christians at their peak is estimated at 500 thousand.peak is estimated at 500 thousand. In contrast, In contrast, Christians attach a great importance to Christians attach a great importance to martyrdom probably due to the nature of martyrdom probably due to the nature of Christianity.Christianity.

► The Japanese The Japanese government used government used Fumie to identify Fumie to identify Catholics. Catholics. Fumie were Fumie were pictures of the Virgin pictures of the Virgin Mary and Christ and Mary and Christ and the government the government officials made officials made everybody trample on everybody trample on these pictures. People these pictures. People reluctant to step on the reluctant to step on the pictures were identified pictures were identified as Catholics and were as Catholics and were sent to Nagasakisent to Nagasaki. .

►The policy of Edo was to turn them The policy of Edo was to turn them from their faith. However, if the from their faith. However, if the Catholics refused to change their Catholics refused to change their religion, they were tortured. religion, they were tortured.

► But as many of them still refused to But as many of them still refused to abandon their faith, they were killed by abandon their faith, they were killed by the government. Execution took place at the government. Execution took place at Nagasaki's Mount Unzen where many were Nagasaki's Mount Unzen where many were dumped into the volcano.dumped into the volcano.

► The Shimabara The Shimabara Rebellion, led by a Rebellion, led by a young Christian boy young Christian boy named Amakusa Shiro named Amakusa Shiro Tokisada took place in Tokisada took place in 1637. About 27,000 1637. About 27,000 people joined the people joined the rebellion, but it was rebellion, but it was crushed by the crushed by the shogunate. They are not shogunate. They are not considered martyrs considered martyrs since they organized since they organized armed resistance.armed resistance.