Christian Religion in Japan
1. Introductory note
The Christian religion - a monotheistic world religion began with the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago. Its literary fundament is the Bible - the Old and the New Testament. Jesus´ life and effects were written down in the four Holy Gospels of Matthew, Marc, Luke and John. You can read that Christ´s advent is the jubilation of all mankind, but especially of the poor, outcast and suffering.
2. The beginning of Christianity in Japan
The Christian religion came late to Japan. For centuries three religions had already been integrated in Japanese life, penetrating and shaping each other with little conflict. These were Shinto, Confucianism and Buddhism.
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Symbol of Shinto - Torii at the Ashinoko
lake near Hakone |
Prince Shotoko Taishi wrote the frist constitution
of Japan, influenced by Buddhism and confucianism in the 7th
century |
During the time of big discoveries, especially by ship at the end of the Middle Ages, new isles and countries were explored. There was even a new view of life in people´s minds. The pope as the head of the Christian Church wanted to realise Jesus´s order to bring Christianity to everyone, sending our missionaries to all parts of the world. A group of people left for Japan in 1541.
3. Francis Xavier - Japan´s apostle
Being very interested in the new religion Japanese people could not understand why Christianity did not come from China - the land with which they had so many things in common in their daily lives. Francis Xavier started a trip to China in 1552 where he died in the same year.
The religion teachings in Japan further promulgated by Spanish and portuguese missionaries and traders, who used their commercial powers to spread the new religion. It is said that feudal barons who permitted the teaching of Christianity were favoured by the western merchants, while those opposed to the new religion were avoided.
4.1. Hideyoshi´s persecution (1586-1598)
The successful days of Christianity in Japan ended early. After the killing of Shogun Oda Nobunaga, who was a protector of Christianity against hostile Buddhism and daimyos in 1582, the persecution of Christians began. Nobunaga´s successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued an edict in 1587 in which he ordered the destruction of Christian churches and the ban of Christians, especially Christian missionaries, within 20 days. To emphasize this demand he ordered death penalty for those who would not respect his decision. The Jesuits prefered to stay. Knowing how to do their work without being noticed by Christian enemies, even churches and hospitals were built in 1593, although the doctrine was still in force.
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Oda Nobunage |
Toyotomi Hideyoshi |
Of course mistrust could not be excluded by anyone and it was thought that the missionaries were spies or vanguards of the Spanish army who searched a possibility to invade Japan.
The memorial of the 26 martyrs from Nagasaki that were killed on 5th
February 1597
The consequence of this mistrust was that a new period of persecution began, starting with the San Felipe Incident in 1596. In the following time Christians, even children were arrested and tortured. On 5th February 1597 the first Christians were killed in massacre in Nagasaki, the town with the most Christians. These martyrs were canonised by Pope Pius IX in 1962.
4.2. Ieyasu´s and Hidetada´s persecution (1598-1616/ 1616-1623)
Under Hideyoshi´s successors Tokugawa Ieyasu and his son Hidetada there was no end of persecution in sight. After Ieyasu had got the title Shogun from the Emperor and founded the Tokugawa Shogunate the persecution seemed to be stopped at first. It is a fact that Jesuit missionaries were allowed to publish Japanese-Portuguese dictionaries in the following years. But in 1612 again he restricted the Christian religion, forbidding the nobility to become members of it, although the number of Japanese did not grow any longer. Two years later he proclaimed a doctrine that claimed the destruction of all Christian churches in Japan and the expulsion of Christian missionaries from Nagasaki. From 150 missionaries only 37 stayed. In the following time Christian firstly were brought away from
Japan, then lots of them, people at all ages were beheaded or
killed by fire after being tortured. Sometimes they were thrown
in boiling water or their ears were cut off. |
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Tokugawa Ieyasu |
The most terrible persecution of Christians reached ist aim when Hidetada´s son Iemitsu had become sovereign of Japan. Under his rule Japanese Christians had been persecuted almost to the point of extinction. The martyrs of Omura that were killed by fire in 1624 were canonised by Pope Pius IX in 1867.
Another Christian humilation started in 1627 forcing Christians and all people who seemed to belong to this religion to damage Christian pictures and statues. It did not find an end until 1871.
Since 1634 money could be earned by handing over Christians priest or religious members to Christian enemies.
After having quelled a revolt of Christian daimyos and about 35,000 fighters n Shimabara in 1637, many Christians were no longer able to stand the pressure of the persecution and became members of the Buddhism religion again.
Three edicts had been issued in the years 1633, 1636 and 1639, sentencing everyone to death who had tried to cross the border of Japan in any direction.
After a tribunal for inquisition had been founded by Iemitsu in 1640 and all daimyos were ordered to follow the shogunate´s example, hardly no priest stayed in the country any longer. Nevertheless some missionaries came to Japan but all of them were sentenced to death.
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| damaged statue | Christians were branded and beheaded | Japanese Christians were forced to damage Christian pictures and statues |
5.1. The end of Japan´s isolation
Japan´s period of isolation ended by the middle of the 19th century, after about 200 years that passed without any perceptible change. The Christian religion had existed during the hole time without being known, but Japanese people despised it anyway. The persecution had left its traces. After treaties had been signed with the USA, Great Britain, Russia and the Netherlands in the 1850s lots of foreign missionaries returned. It is reported about Christians who worked as interpretors although persecutions and execution were still done.
5.2. A Christian church in Nagasaki
When a church opened in Nagasaki on 19th February 1865 it was noticed that there were Christian followers in Japan, anyway. Generations had passed without changing their Christian faith. Always afraid of new punishments, Christians lived in anxiety because Iemitsu´s anti Christian laws were not taken away yet. Communities were developed fastly in the valley of Urakami, in Takeshima, Sukitsuki Hirato and Goto.
In 1868 after the shogunate system had ended and the Meiji period started, Shinto was called out as state´s religion to make Buddhism´s influence smaller but both religions lost their dominance in 1884. In the same year the governor of Nagasaki proclaimed a new edict for a persecution of Christians starting with immediately arresting Japanese Christians. 4.500 were killed by fire or died of tortures or hunger. Protests from all over the world forced Japan to suspend the ban on Christianity in March 1873 in order to secure western assistance. Within a time many countries sent their missionaries to establish their presence in Japan. Roman Catholics, especially Jesuits, Protestants, Baptists and Orthodoxes came. Translations of Christian literature and publications such as the Old and New Testament were made to receive Christianity.
In 1876 Japan became divided into two apostolic spheres of influence: Tokyo - whose church had already been founded in Yokohama in 1872 and Nagasaki. Furthermore schools for priests were built.
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Today´s Oura church in Nagasaki -
in March 1862 the "Hidden Christians" met on this
place. |
Hiroshima - Christians praying in front
of their church. It was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. |
Hiroshima -"Church of world´s
peace" - It was built by P. Hugo Lasalle S.J. in 1954 |
6. Christianity since the end of persecution until today
6.1. The religious liberty
Up to 1889 the number of Christians in Japan grew rapidly. Because of this and the growing western demands for religious toleration, the Emperor afforded religious liberty the same year. Since this time until now Christians were not persecuted any longer but it was demanded that churches were not controlled by foreign interests. The hierarchy was introduced in 1891 and in 1904 there was the beginning of the division into mission districts.
As Japanese women were inferior in Japanese community Christian organisations from the beginning took care to help women to get equal civil rights. That is why women got prepared as best as they could in English, which language was more and more needed.
Western civilisation considered itself Christian and the advanced states of education, culture and medicine in the west showed the superiority of this western civilisation. Quite a number of Christian churches, both Catholic and Protestants, have been established. Until today the number of Christian believers is growing.
The Tenno system criticised Christianity firstly for how Jesus´ message of the coming of the Kingdom and his warning of the Final Judgement was taught.
Being always sceptically considered as probable traitors and anti-national people, it was impossible for a Japanese Christian to be accepted. Even their contact with the world-wide Christian Church, epecially during the rule of Japanese militarism. In the 1930s and 1940s they made a very bitter experience when they were continuously classified as aliens. But most Japanese Christians faced no problems to be religious members of Shinto and Christianity. Many even worked in both of them.
During the Second World War lots of Christian churches had been destroyed. After the total capitulation in 1945 Shinto as the state´s religion was abolished by the USA and the Emperor was no longer the divine head of the state. But until today he is loved and worshiped by the Japanese, no matter which religion the belong to.
As Christianity in Japan was dominately influenced by the German and Swiss theology it is easy to understand why Japanese Christians nowadays show an intense interest in the history of German and Swiss Church in the twentieth century.
Many churches had united in the United Church of Christ in Japan (UCC-J, Kyodan), but no one was forced to be a member of a community. The Roman Catholic Church, for example, was organised the same way. As long as they were loyal to the Emperor the Religious Organisations Law reflected the Constitution and the Imperial Rescript on Education allowed Christians to confess their religion.
Many social problems were tackled by Christian institutions and organisations. They did not only help in problems with the abuse of alcohol or tobacco but also with the Japanese system of licensed prostitution. Today there are lots of Christian institution in Japan. Hospitals were opened such as clinics for the handicapped and lepers, and orphan children were cared for.
Universities, like the Sophia University in Tokyo, and schools have been founded and wealthier parents send their children to Christian missionary schools which are famous for their good education, especially in foreign languages and western culture, regarding Christianity as a part of it. Of course lots of pupils attend such schools and churches in hope for better chances in their further business-life rather than for reasons of religious education.
Present-day Christian denominations in Japan include, among others, the Roman Catholic, the United Church of Christ in Japan, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Spirit of Jesus Church and the Anglican Episcopal Church. There are over 7,000 places of worship in the country. In 1990 Christians claimed a membership of about 1,750,000. That´s still less than 1 per cent of the population.
Japanese people are very interested and also integrated in Christianity in Europe. On my visit in Düsseldorf I noticed a Japanese Protestant community near the city centre.
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| Today everyone who is interested in the Christian religion can practise his knowledge for example at the Sophia-University in Tokyo (right), like it was done at the seminary in Arima in 1579 (left) | |
Books
- Geographisch-Kulturelle Gesellschaft im Kunstkreis Luzern, Freudenstadt, Wien : "Länder und Völker - Asien - Der Japanische Archipel"
- Anton Freitag: "Die Wege des Heils - Bildatlas zur Geschichte des Weltmission"
- Wilhelm Hünermann: " Geschichte der Weltmission - Lebensbilder großer Missionare 2. Band: Feuersturm über Asien"
Pictures (nummeriert nach der Erscheinungsreihenfolge auf den Seiten, von oben nach unten und links nach rechts)
- Länder und Völker - Asien - Der Japanische Archipel": No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7,
- Dr. Alois Koch S. J. - Hannover: No. 3, 6, 10, 11, 13,
- "Die Wege des Heils - Bildatlas zur Geschichte der Weltmission": No. 8, 9, 12, 14, 15,
(c) Ursula Müller/ Bildung und Begabung e.V.
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