Japan is a country in East Asia that is washed by the Pacific Ocean. The island nation is known for its high standard of living. The Japanese pay much attention to their own education, they are hardworking and diligent. Japanese culture, in the formation of which religion has become an important factor, is original and unique. The vast majority of the local population professes Shintoism. And today we will discuss whether there is Christianity in Japan.
Land of the Rising Sun
The Russian-language name of Japan is an exonym that descended from German or French (Japan or Japon). The Japanese themselves call their country "Nihon" or "Nippon." In the Russian translation, this word means "The place where the sun rises," therefore the state is often called the Land of the Rising Sun. In addition, before the Japanese actively used euphemisms. It was called the Land of Eight Islands, the Land in the Reed Plains and other poetic epithets.
The head of state is called "tenno", which means "heavenly master." The Russian analogue of this word is the emperor. In Japan, there is a legend that emperors are descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu.
Japan belongs to the category of young civilizations. Presumably, its territory was inhabited many thousands of years ago, but statehood began to take shape only in the 6-7 centuries of our era. Starting from this period, the country began to develop actively. First of all, she took over the experience from China. This is the unique ability of the Japanese people to use the experience of other, more developed countries, but at the same time not to lose their uniqueness.
Religions in Japan
The first religion known to history in Japan is Shinto (the "path of the gods"), which most of the population adheres to today. Shintoism arose on the basis of an ancient cult that deified natural objects and encouraged the worship of the dead. Trees, rivers, mountains could become deities (kami).
Buddhism is as widespread in Japan as it is in Tibet, China, India and several other Asian countries. It began to spread in the country in the 6th century under the influence of China. It is somewhat different from the “traditional” one, as it is a mixture of Buddha’s teachings with Japanese culture and Shintoism.
Confucianism is based on the teachings of a Chinese scientist, whose name today is known to each of us - Confucius. He was of the opinion that the relationship between people (father and son, husband and wife, ruler and filed) should be similar to the Sun and the Moon - people should live in harmony, but provide enough space for self-expression. Only in this case the law of balance of the universe will not be violated.
Christianity in Japan
In 1543, Portuguese merchants crashed off the coast of the Japanese island of Tanegashima. These were the first Christians to set foot on Japanese territory. However, the spread of Christianity did not begin with them. The first missionary to arrive with the goal of converting the Japanese to Christianity was Francis Xavier (1506-1552). His catholic church honors both the apostles of India and Japan. Francis was a major political figure, as well as the founder of the Society of Jesus (Order of the Jesuits). At first Francis was sent to India. After the successful completion of the mission, he went to Japan. About this in his book, writes Mark Mullins, professor at the Tokyo Catholic Institute of the Department of Sociology. To his book, Christianity: Made in Japan, we will return later. In the meantime, let's talk briefly about Christianity in Japan in the 16-17th centuries.
Christian mission
Christianity in Japan became widespread in the 16th century. In 1549, the Navarrez Xavier arrived with the Japanese Anziro in the southern city of Kagoshima. Living in the Andzirov family, Francis baptized him and his family. And since the servants were the property of the owner, then they were obliged to be baptized, more under duress than at will. Having converted to Christianity about one hundred people (who became the first Catholic community in Europe), Francis continued his sermons. He successfully baptized many citizens of Yamaguchi and Kyoto.
The problem was that the missionaries did not respect the religiosity and customs of the Japanese. They were convinced that only Christians would be saved, while the Gentiles would burn in fiery hell. This provoked an internal protest among the Japanese, who understood that their ancestors, whom they treat with such reverence, were burning in hell.
Initially, Christian missionaries received support from some members of the Japanese nobility. In particular, they were supported by the shoguns (people who govern the country) Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Christian sermons resonated in the hearts of people on the island of Kyushu and in the Kinki region.
It should be noted that Oda Nobunaga (in whom Toyotomi was originally in the service) did not accept Christian missionaries because he became interested in Christian teaching. Documents suggest that Nobunaga was an atheist. However, the agreement with the Europeans was: "missionaryism in exchange for weapons." Thus, Oda was able to deal with the sects that were in conflict with him.
For several decades, members of the Society of Christ have converted about 300,000 Japanese to the Christian faith. As mentioned above, some of these people served as servants in the homes of wealthy gentlemen, therefore they acted unconsciously, often deprived of freedom of choice.
Among the missionaries were Franciscans, which caused competition between the orders. In the end, this led to a loss of confidence in the missionaries from the Japanese. Some returned to their former faith. Only Nobunaga continued to support the Europeans, intoxicated by the desire with their help to unite Japan into a single state.
Persecution and fear
Missionary Defender Oda Nabunaga was assassinated in 1582. And soon his place was taken by Toyotomi, who was once a simple peasant. Thanks to his brilliant mind, he quickly climbed the career ladder. He continued the work of Nabunagi - united disunited Japan into a single country. However, the way the Jesuits behaved did not please him. They killed adherents of a different faith and sold captives to Portuguese plantations as slaves.
Therefore, Toyotomi issued a decree that ordered missionaries to leave the country within 20 days. He also banned the adoption of Christianity by those Japanese whose possessions exceeded 100 square meters. However, he soon allowed missionaries to preach, but did not guarantee them safety in Japan. And the beginning of the persecution of Christians was the execution of 26 martyrs from Nagasaki.
26 martyrs from Nagasaki
The history of Christianity in Japan is full of blood and torment. In 1857, Toyotomi Hideyoshi arrested 26 Catholics. Some were Japanese, others were Europeans. These 26 unfortunates were terribly executed - their ears were cut off, they were taken along the streets of the city, and later they were crucified on crosses, piercing with spears. This terrible incident forever remained in the history of Japan a bloody stain. The remains of the clothes were collected by secret Christians. The slain were elevated by the Catholics to the rank of saints. Today, a monument stands at the place of execution, and a museum dedicated to the martyrs of Nagasaki is located nearby.
The final battle for faith
The massacre of Christians continued under Eiyasu Tokugawa, who replaced Hideyoshi as prime minister of Japan. He completed the unification of the country and became famous for the brutal reprisals against the Orthodox, who were forced to hide. Those who were suspected of adhering to Christianity were forced to step on a copper plate depicting the Virgin. Those who responded to such blasphemy were brutally executed.
Christians in Japan had to hide. In 1637, the samurai (by the way, it was they who first adopted Christianity in Japan) raised a rebellion. This happened in the city of Shimabara, on the island of Kyushu. They fought fiercely, but soon the rebellion was brutally crushed. Christianity in Japan was banned for the next 250 years. Although the country remained secret Christian communities. And Japan remained closed to other states - and especially to missionaries.
Secret Christian communities in Japan
Most recently, records of secret Christians have been restored in the Vatican Library. They were called kakure-kirisitan. When Japan reopened for missionaries, they discovered about 20,000 secret Christians who were forced to hide their religion.
The Japanese, frightened by the tortures inflicted on Christians, learned to hide. Catholic services disguised themselves as Buddhist rituals.
Christianity and Shintoism
Maria Canon is still a symbol of hidden Christians, although today the Japanese are free to choose their religion. Maria Canon, a symbol of Christianity in Japan, is the Asian Madonna. She is the embodiment of purity, integrity, and mercy. The name Canon belongs to the Chinese goddess. Christians, praying to the Virgin Mary, were forced to hide Her image behind the guise of a pagan celestial. And today, the sculptures of Maria Canon can be seen in Japan, especially in rural areas. Recognizable Virgin Mary by the baby she holds in her arms - Jesus Christ.
Many temples and woodlands were disguised as Buddhist and Shinto. Christians also created shrines in the rocks. For decades, their work has been a prime example of the fact that people, even under pain of death, do not renounce their faith.
Christianity in the Land of the Rising Sun today
Christianity is one of the religions of modern Japan, despite the terrible events of the 16-17th centuries. Missionaries began to visit the country during the reign of 122 Emperor of Japan Meiji (1852-1912). Starting to rule, Meiji developed a set of political, economic and military reforms. Thanks to his work, Christians stopped hiding, because Western culture poured into Japan. Christianity was perceived as part of it.
Of course, during the period of persecution of Christians in the country, a pagan form of Orthodoxy was formed, which the Orthodox see as heretical. Today, there are very few Christians in Japan - about 2 percent of the total population.
Mark Mullins, which we have already mentioned above, in his book argues that the young generation of the Japanese refers to Christianity without prejudice, is interested in it. Many Japanese study in the West and adopt Christianity. Books about Christianity are also popular in the country.
Conclusion
We can talk about the ways of Christianity in Japan for a long time. They tried to destroy it, eradicate it, and expel it from Japanese soil. People have lived in fear for decades. It is not in vain that Japan is called the "missionary cemetery." Many people were killed and brutally tortured in the Land of the Rising Sun. However, the past is forgotten, and today it is again winning the hearts of the Japanese. This is confirmed by the fact that the local population buys Orthodox literature in bookstores.