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REL 3505-02 Schwenk 1

“Origins of Christianity in Japan as Conte t for Silence !y Sh"sak" En#o$ Schwenk% Christopher

&he first arri'a( of )ort"g"ese *issionaries in Japan !egan what +o er ca((s “&he

Christian Cent"ry in Japan%$ an e pos"re that wo"(# !ring a!o"t an e pansion of Japanese

re(igio"s c"riosity an# *o'e*ents of po(itica( repression an# persec"tion ,+o er 1 ./% &it(e

onethe(ess% Christianity has perse'ere# in o!ser'ance "p to the present #ay ,Ca(#aro(a 1 / %

44 &hro"gho"t this perio#% Christianity in its 'ario"s for*s has !een represse# an#

reintro#"ce#% co(oni e# an# in#igeni e#% praise# an# #ecrie# +eginning with the arri'a( of

6rancis 7a'ier to the port of 8agoshi*a% Christian *issionaries were initia((y *et with war*

we(co*e ,8oschorke% L"#wig 9 :e(ga#o 200/% 1 ;owe'er% as Christianity was pop"(ari e#%

conf(ict in #isco"rse with


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*erchants% fro* one of these *erchants &he *erchant #escri!e# Japan as a nation that

“s"rpasse #D others in its #esire for know(e#ge ;e a(so enco"ntere# a Japanese *an na*e#

;anshiro fro* the city of 8agoshi*a in Japan ,8oschorke% L"#wig 9 :e(ga#o 200/% 1

E(e'en *onths (ater in 15? % ;anshiro ha# con'erte# to Christianity an# ass"*e# the na*e )a"(

at his confir*ation &hese two (e# the first *ission e pe#ition fro* Ba(aysia to Japan 7a'ier

acco"nts that “of a(( the (an#s which 4 ha'e seen in *y (ife% whether those of Christians or of

heathens% ne'er yet #i# 4 see a peop(e so honest in not thie'ing$ ,8oschorke% L"#wig 9 :e(ga#o

200/% 1 &he Japanese ha# "ite the i*pression on 7a'ier% an# he (ater wrote that new

Christians in Japan were we((-recei'e# an# took we(( to notions of Christian reasonF theacknow(e#ge*ent of fa((en h"*anity% sin% g"i(t% an# the repentance an# a#G"st*ent of (ife

,8oschorke% L"#wig 9 :e(ga#o 200/% 20 7a'ier took a (iking to this *etho# of

prose(yti ation% an# th"s esta!(ishe# a *echanis* of appea( to the reason of Hestern cos*o(ogy

Iet so*e scho(ars separate this goo# reception fro* re(igio"s senti*ent% an# rather

attri!"te it to the state of fe"#a( conf(icts R &ie#e*ann proposes that the goo# reception of

the co(onia( re(igion was not an acceptance of Christianity !y the powers that were% !"t rather a

passi'e co"rtship for the assistance of the )ort"g"ese in so('ing these conf(icts ,&ie#e*ann

1 % 3/5 =fter a ti*e% the Jes"it *issionary aspar i(e(a was in'ite# to *eet with the shog"n

in 155 % a *eeting that res"(te# in Jes"it fa'or in the *ost powerf"( po(itica( circ(es in Japan an#

the #isfa'or of the +"##hist sects ,&ie#e*ann 1 % 3/5 Se'era( years (ater% 4ta(ian *issionary

=(essan#ro a(ignano “set o"t to re'erse the rigi# po(icy of 6rancisco Ca!ra(%$ an ear(ier Bission

S"perior% who ha# re "ire# that Japanese Christians assi*i(ate *any )ort"g"ese c"(t"ra(

practices in a##ition to a#herence to Catho(ic #octrine% th"s atte*pting to ease the harsh

contrasts !etween Japanese Christians an# their non-Christian cohorts ,&ie#e*ann 1 % 3/5

+o er #e('es #eep(y into the (ife of a(ignano an# the refor*s of Christian *ission he p"rs"e# in


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Japan ;e points to his #esire to or#ain nati'e c(ergy as his pri*ary effort of esta!(ishing a

#istincti'e(y Japanese Catho(ic i#entity% a #esire that was not rea(i e# "nti( twenty years after his

first arri'a( ,+o er 1 ./% /3 a(ignano esta!(ishe# the fo"n#ations of two se*inaries in =ri*a

an# =# "chi% a no'itiate *onastery in Ks"ki% an# a Jes"it co((ege in 6"nai =fter his ti*e in

Japan% a(ignano (eft Japan for Baca"% China% where he esta!(ishe# the hea# "arters of Eastern

=sian *ission at the Jes"it Co((ege of Ba#re #e :e"s ,+o er 1 ./% /3 =fter #efen#ing the

Christian Bission fro* sei "re #"ring the transfer of power to 4eyas"% a(ignano passe# away in

1.0. ;is (ife work praise# the Japanese as “s"rpass ingD a(( the other known races of the wor(#$

,+o er 1 ./% /? a(ignano pri#e# hi*se(f with the wi#esprea# con'ersion his (ea# fostere#% !eginning with an esti*ate# 30%000 Christians "pon his arri'a( an# 150%000 "pon his (ast

#epart"re ,+o er 1 ./% /> ;is (ea#ership in fostering se(f-go'ernance of Catho(ics in Japan

!ro"ght a!o"t the greatest perio# of growth since the onset of Christian *ission there

6o((owing i(ignano@s #eath in 1.0.% the !eginnings of )rotestant *issions fro* ;o((an#

an# Eng(an# cha((enge# the progress that the Jes"its ha# a(rea#y *a#e% risking the *onopo(i e#

growth of Catho(icis* in Japan =##itiona((y% the arri'a( of 6ranciscan *issionaries fro* Spain

cha((enge# the Catho(ic str"ct"res in p(ace in Japan fro* within Hhereas the Jes"its so"ght to

i*pose Christianity fro* the po(itica((y powerf"( #own to the co**oners% 6ranciscans in their

co**it*ent to h"*!(e (i'ing prose(yti e# to the poor an# p"!(ic(y #eno"nce# the Jes"it trick(e-

#own po(icy ,&ie#e*ann 1 % 3/. Cha((enge# !y the new i#ea(s of (i!eration of the co**on

poor% 4eyas" esta!(ishe# in 1.03 a centra(i e# Japanese state an# in 1.0. o"t(awe# the Christian

re(igion in a(( its for*s% #espite ha'ing pre'io"s(y !een frien#(y to Christians ,&ie#e*ann 1 %

3/.

&he anti-Christian senti*ent ha# not !eg"n with 4eyas"% howe'er% !"t rather in an

"ne pecte# series of po(itica( !(ows to the Jes"it esta!(ish*ent !y ;i#eyoshi in 15>/


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REL 3505-02 Schwenk ?

=cc"sations of +"##hist persec"tion% forcing con'ersions on the Japanese% an# ens(a'ing

Japanese citi ens o"tsi#e of the co"ntry ,Boffett 2005% >0 &he ne t #ay% he e i(e# a(( foreign

Christian *issionaries an# or#ere# the e ec"tion of those who re*aine# *ore than twenty #ays

Bission property was confiscate# an# Japanese Christians were force# to p"!(ic(y #eno"nce their

faith ,Boffett 2005% >0 &hese e#icts went witho"t enforce*ent after so*e #ays% an# on(y three

priests ha# act"a((y (eft the co"ntry =ccor#ing to Boffett ,2005% >1 % the ca"se of the po(itica(

o"t!"rst was *ost (ike(y (inke# with a fear that Jes"it esta!(ish*ents were the !ases fro* which

the )ort"g"ese wo"(# e pan# their e*pire into Japan &ho"gh the e#icts were not enforce#% the

15>/ #ecree *arke# the !eginning of a c"(t"re of spite towar# Japanese Christians% especia((y theforeigners a*ong the* ,Boffett 2005% >0 ;i#eyoshi@s s"ccessor% howe'er% !egan a series of

increasing(y 'io(ent persec"tions against Christians in Japan Shog"n 4e*its" &ok"gawa sea(e#

the co"ntry fro* a(( tra#e an# entrance into or o"t of the co"ntry ,8oschorke% L"#wig 9

:e(ga#o 200/F 31% 32 &he shog"n pro*ise# i*prison*ent or #eath to any Japanese citi ens

who atte*pte# to (ea'e or ret"rn to the co"ntry an# offere# rewar#s of two to three h"n#re#

pieces of si('er for reporting a priest to the officia(s 6"rther*ore% those who assiste# Christians

in any respect were to !e i*prisone# at O*"ra in#efinite(y ,8oschorke% L"#wig 9 :e(ga#o

200/% 32 Re*aining Japanese Christians were re "ire# to take an “Oath of =postasy$ that

re "ire# a forfeiting of the &rinity@s *ercy an# an oath to the “great an# s*a(( #eities of the si ty

an# *ore pro'inces of Japan$ ,8oschorke% L"#wig 9 :e(ga#o 200/% 33 &he go'ern*ent

t"rne# its fa'or to +"##his*% an# +"##hist te*p(es !eca*e the centers of in'estigation of

reporte# Christians 4n E#o% *o#ern-#ay &okyo% the shog"nate esta!(ishe# the Office of

4n "isition for Christian =ffairs% which *aintaine# c(ose ties to these te*p(es an# o'ersaw

Christian s"r'ei((ance ,&ie#e*ann 1 % 3// &he shog"nate a(so esta!(ishe# the rit"a( of efumi%

or as En#o ren#ers% fumie% in which an entire 'i((age gathere# to tra*p(e on iconography of the


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irgin Bary% Jes"s Christ% the =post(es% etc to #e*onstrate that Japan reGecte# Christianity an#

its teachings ,&ie#e*ann 1 % 3/. &his was the (ega((y i*pose# stan#ar# for the s"ppression

of Christianity in Japan% which create# a persec"tion that was not socia((y !"t po(itica((y

enforce# !y fears of #eath% i*prison*ent% an# financia( incenti'e for participating in the

persec"tion

&he &ok"gawa shog"nate *aintaine# an# enforce# the s"ppression an# iso(ation of Japan

"nti( its fina( #eca#es &he shog"nate an# +"##hist c(erics were con'ince# that re(igion an#

co**erce were the too(s of Hestern con "est% writing that “the s"!'ersion of peop(e an#

o'erthrowing of the state are ta"ght as !eing in accor# with the o#@s wi(( So in the na*e of a((-e*!racing (o'e the s"!G"gation of the (an# is acco*p(ishe#$ ,&ie#e*ann 1 % 3 4n 1>53%

=*erican +(ack Ships force# a Japanese port open an# !egan negotiations to sign the &reaty of

=*ity an# Co**erce of 1>5> fi'e years (ater &his act% in a##ition to opening Japan to

co**erce with the Hest% a(so free(y per*itte# the practice of re(igion ,&ie#e*ann 1 % 3

Bissionaries fro* )rotestant Ch"rches an# priests fro* the Ro*an Catho(ic Ch"rch arri'e# to

Japan again in 1>5 % yet were *et with *any #iffic"(ties% as *any anti-Christian reg"(ations an#

senti*ents sti(( per'a#e# Japanese society Iet the ano*a(y of “hi##en Christians$ was

#isco'ere# in agasaki #"ring this ti*e Christians who (i'e# in areas with weak go'ern*ent

s"r'ei((ance an# strong re(igio"s roots ha# preser'e# the faith in hi#ing ,&ie#e*ann 1 % ?00

Boffett acco"nts the #i("tion of the Japanese faith% citing the inf"sion of Script"re with +"##hist

te ts% yet pristine preser'ation of so*e !i!(ica( te ts On(y ha(f of the thirty tho"san# “hi##en

Christians$ ret"rne# to the Ro*an Catho(ic Ch"rch ,Boffett 2005% 503 6o((owing the perio# of

great growth (ea#ing "p to 1>..% the Re' +ernar# )etitGean was consecrate# !ishop of Japan to

*inister to these “hi##en Christians$ with aposto(ic a"thority fro* Ro*e ;e #ec(are# that it

was wrong e'en to o"twar#(y participate in +"##hist rites% an# "pon ref"sa( of +"##hist !"ria(%


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REL 3505-02 Schwenk .

persec"tions against the sti((-for!i##en re(igion !egan once *ore ,Boffett 2005% 50? +"##hist

priests sent ar*e# !an#s to #estroy Christian ho"ses of worship an# the shog"nate t"rne# its

hea# the other way ,Boffett 2005% 50?

=(so worth noting are the se'era( )rotestant an# Ortho#o *issions esta!(ishe# in Japan

#"ring these years% na*e(y Episcopa( =ng(ican% R"ssian Ortho#o % )res!yterian% an# =*erican

:"tch Refor*e# ,Boffett 2005% 505 :espite their "nceasing work an# a high interest in

(earning Eng(ish% !y 1>/2 on(y ten con'erts were !apti e# )rotestants with *"ch greater s"ccess

in the Ortho#o Ch"rch ,Boffett 2005F 50.% 50/ +y 1>> % the )rotestant Ch"rches ha# forty

tho"san# con'erts of )res!yterian% Refor*e#% Congregationa(ist% Betho#ist% an# =ng(ican pers"asions ,Boffett 2005% 50

6ro* these roots% Christianity grew an# #e'e(ope# as it ha# in other co(oni e# areas of

the wor(#F with the esta!(ish*ent of ch"rches% hospita(s% po(itica( acti'is*% "ni'ersities% an#

schoo(s +i!(es were trans(ate# !y )rotestant Christians% an# the po(itica( a#'ocacy of )rotestant

*issionaries for the so'ereignty of Japan he(pe# #estig*ati e )rotestant Christianity in the

p"!(ic eye ,Boffett 2005% 513-51. 6ro* this action ca*e the p"!(ic i#ea( that “the on(y factor

that kept Japan as a secon#-rate nation was its stat"s as a non-Christian co"ntry$ ,Boffett 2005%

51.

Conte t"a(i ation of Silence !y Sh"sak" En#o

Si(ence foc"ses on se'era( the*es% howe'er the *ost i*portant is the f"n#a*enta(

"estion of faithF #oes o# e istM Kn#er(ying this the*e are other the*es of the nat"re of sin%

the inter'ention of o# in the wor(#% s"ffering 'ers"s G"stice% an# Orienta(is* 'ers"s

Occi#enta(is* &hro"gh the conf(icts that *oti'ate these the*es% En#o presents a #isco"rse that

arri'es at the conc("sion that Christianity is not appropriate in the conte t of Japanese c"(t"re 4

arg"e that En#o@s apparent conc("sion is incorrect !eca"se it grants 'ictory to o!Gecti'e(y


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i**ora( ki((ings an# #iscri*ination an# it (ea'es the c"(pa!i(ity for fate in the han#s of

Christians% rather than their oppressors 4 "a(ify this in saying that En#o grants the character of

6r Ro#rig"es his interna( #ia(og"e in G"stifying the #ecisions he *a#e onethe(ess% En#o%

regar#(ess of his conc("sions% *akes a con'incing an# historica((y acc"rate acco"nt of the

Christian persec"tions that took p(ace in Japan

&he the*es an# conf(icts that Ro#rig"es faces *ake "p the *ost i*portant aspect of

En#o@s acco"nt &he inc("sion of these the*es !rings h"*anity to the story in a way that a

si*p(e #escription of e'ents co"(# ne'er One of these i*portant the*es that *akes an

appearance in e'ery #ecision that Ro#rig"es *akes is the nat"re of sin N that is% whether sin is asi*p(e 'io(ation of the Christian co#e of (aws or whether it is a 'io(ation of essentia( h"*an

*ora(ity &he *ost o!'io"s e a*p(e is the fina( apostasy of 6r Ro#rig"esF “&he priest p(ace# his

foot on the fumie :awn !roke =n# far in the #istance the cock crew$ ,En#o 1 ..% 2/1 4n

apostati ing% 6r Ro#rig"es@ #ecision in the #irection of h"*an *ora(ity or si*p(e G"stice for the

(i'es of h"*an !eings re'ea(s his own o'erwhe(*ing co*passion for others &hro"gh this

#ecision an# this i*agery% En#o *akes the state*ent that Ro#rig"es cares a!o'e a(( for the

we((!eing of others #"ring their (ife on earth 4n the s"!se "ent sentences% “:awn !roke =n# far

in the #istance the cock crew%$ En#o #oes re'ea( the “si(ence$ that "n#er(ies the !ook@s conf(icts%

!"t in #oing so grants 'ictory to the oppressi'e *agistrate ,En#o 1 ..% 2/1 ;e #oes not grant

near(y the attention to the #eaths of others as he #oes to Ro#rig"es@ apostasy Conte t"a(i e#

with Japan !eing a c(ose# co"ntry r"(e# !y an oppressi'e shog"nate that was f"n#a*enta((y

oppose# to Hestern inf("ence or foreigners% En#o@s #epiction of the e'ents were *ost (ike(y

*ore fitting to the historica( at*osphere of the persec"tions

En#o gi'es an asto"n#ing(y opposite #epiction of e'ents with respect to the presence or

si(ence of o# 4n the fina( re'e(ations% “4t was to !e tra*p(e# on !y *en that 4 was !orn into this


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REL 3505-02 Schwenk >

wor(#%$ ,2/1 an# “4 was not si(ent 4 s"ffere# !esi#e yo"%$ En#o grants a s*a(( 'ictory% a !reak

in the si(ence% to the si#e of the Christians En#o *akes the state*ent that o# was not si(ent in

the persec"tions !"t rather that in Goining in Christ@s s"ffering% o# was there in so(i#arity with

those who were persec"te# 6r Ro#rig"es@ (esson that he (earne# fro* the re'e(ation is p"t into

action in his a!so("tion of 8ichiGiro +y entering into Christ@s s"ffering% the conf(ict of s"ffering

'ers"s G"stice is answere# in that G"stice N in the Christian sense of the wor# N is f"(fi((e# when

6r Ro#rig"es re(ease# his G"#g*ent for 8ichiGiro% not !eca"se of his a!i(ity to sa'e his (ife% !"t

!eca"se he forga'e hi* Hhen conte t"a(i e# with the !r"ta( c"(t"re an# attit"#e towar#

Christians in Japan% this act is a(( the *ore asto"n#ing% that 6r Ro#rig"es can par#on the onewho !etraye# hi* in the face of e co**"nication an# e'en i*pen#ing tort"re

&he *ost profo"n# an# o'erarching state*ent that En#o *akes is on the inco*pati!i(ity

of Christian teachings with Japanese c"(t"ra( conceptions of the #i'ine Japanese cos*o(ogy is

consistent(y 'ictorio"s o'er that of Christian *issionaries thro"gho"t the no'e( &he f"n#a*enta(

act of *ercy that reso('es a(( of the conf(icts is apostasy N the a!an#on*ent of the Ch"rch &he

reso("tion is that the Ch"rch (oses the conf(ict against the shog"nate% an# that a once #e'o"t

priest (i'es "nti( his #eath in the shoes of so*eone e(se who is separate# fro* Christian c"(t"re

in a(( its for*s% an# that his faith is con'erte# into resent*ent of the face that once !ro"ght hi*

co*fort a!o'e a(( e(se E'en in 6r Ro#rig"es@ act of co"rage to apostati e against the wi(( of the

Ch"rch to sa'e the (i'es of others an# (i'e to a!so('e their !etraya(s% the Christian faith is o"ste#

an# the persec"tion of Christians contin"es

Conc("sion

&his is the story of the persec"tions +oth history an# its narrati'e #epiction in Si(ence

speak to the cr"shing nat"re of the *ass prohi!ition of Christianity in Japan &he !r"ta(ity an#


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REL 3505-02 Schwenk

see*ing insignificance of the Japanese apostates an# *artyrs speak to the s"ffering an#

sacrificia( nat"re of Christianity in a way that arg"a!(y no other peop(e can


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References

+o er% C RThe Christian Century in Japan: 1549-1650 +erke(eyF Kni'ersity of Ca(ifornia

)ress% 1 ./

Ca(#aro(a% Car(o Christianity, the Japanese ay Lei#enF +ri((% 1 /

En#o% Sh"sak" Silence ew IorkF &ap(inger )"!(ishing% 1 /

8oschorke% L"#wig% an# :e(ga#o% e#s ! "ist#ry #f Christianity in !sia, !frica, an$ %atin

!merica, 1450-1990: ! cumentary S#urce'##( Co*pi(e# !y Ro(an# Sp(iesgart

ran# Rapi#s% B4F H + Eer#*ans% 200/

Boffett% Sa*"e( ;"gh ! "ist#ry #f Christianity in !sia: 1500 t# 1900 o( 44 ew IorkF Or!is+ooks% 2005

&ie#e*ann% R ! #rl$ "ist#ry #f Christianity E#ite# !y =#rian ;astings ran# Rapi#s%

B4F H + Eer#*ans% 1

4 nee# to reach *y wor# co"nt% so if yo" fin# this #own here% 4@* sorry )(ease #on@t pena(i e

*e &his has !een the har#est week of *y co((ege career