Japan Photo | Christianity 切支丹 Azuchi-Momoyama period

Christian century
© JAPAN-PHOTO-ARCHIV

Christian missionary arrive in Japan
切支丹; 吉利支丹 kirishitan
(1549-1638)

D 275 273
Francis Xavier evangelises in Kagoshima

Christianity was introduced by Francis Xavier / Francisco de Xavier, a Jesuit missionary arriving in Japan in 1549. Oda Nobunaga favored the Europeans and tolerated the religion to be spread throughout the country by Catholic missionaries especially from Spain and Portugal. In 1612 the Tokugawa shogunate totally banned Christianity and ordered the foreigners to leave the country. Missionaries who continued their work undercover were later executed. In 1637 at Shimabara, Christian farmers who had been groaning under heavy taxation raised a large scale revolt. It was put a year later and the government prompted to sever contacts with the West - except for some Dutch merchants.