Christianity and its Reception in Japan Essay -- Jesuit Missionaries,

During the fifthteenth century the Western religion of Christianity began to spread across the world through the influence of European powers such as Portugal and Spain. In 1549 the tiny island nation of Japan was first exposed to Christianity in the form of Jesuit missionaries, which included the affluent Saint Francis Xavier of Spain. Japan, up to this time, had always been an isolated country and this was applied towards its traditional cultural values as well, shunning outsider influences without a second thought. Through Xavier's efforts however, Christianity was able to create a solid foundation in spite of its foreign nature. From its point of arrival in 1549 Christianity enjoyed a peaceful and gradual growth, until 1597, when Japan's then de facto military leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, ordered the crucifixion of some twenty-six Christians in an outburst of anger (Spae 5). From here on the Japanese government began a series of persecution against Christianity and its followers w ithin Japan, ultimately cultivating into a bloody rebellion, and near massacre, in the Shimabara providence in 1639, and the eventual banning of all things Christian alongside a re-isolation of the country. This raises the question: Why was the religion of Christianity met with such resentment by the Japanese government? To answer the question, one must understand the circumstance and history of foreign tolerance in Japan, while also being aware of the political situation within the country at the time. From learning and analyzing these factors of society and politics, it can be realized that Christianity was utilized as a political scapegoat by the Shogunate [Military] government for superordinate means. Furthermore by analyzing this claim, an explana... ...d citizens. The attack of Christianity was chosen due to its foreign nature, as well the fact that it was minor nuisance, posed no actual political threat, and could easily be manipulated into a terrible monster. Once the Bakafu created this image of the evil Christians, and dispelled of it, the Japanese citizens were tricked into a fervent trust and admiration of their rulers. The events which transpired during this period of time help to explain why later Japan would become such a ultra-nationalistic country. The military administration of Japan was able to draw such focus and morale from its citizens due to an excellent manipulation towards view of foreign ideas. And from this initial embedding of anti-foreignness and blind belief in the government, would come the birth of the infamous modern-era patriotic and ultra-militaristic Japan of the twentieth century.