past the past.

Friday, 12 October 2012

confession

Just as Sakamoto and his comrades were moving their base of operations to Nagasaki、the first Christian church in several hundred years was built in Ōura、Nagasaki.

※If I remember right、the exterior of this church is said to be the same as when it was first built、but according to a book I read recently、the original exterior was a little different from the current church.

At that time、Japanese people were still prohibited by national law from practicing Christianity.

Therefore、it seems that Japanese security guards were permanently stationed around the church to monitor Japanese visitors.

In other words、this church was only intended for Westerners staying in Nagasaki.

※Perhaps unsurprisingly considering its rarity、but this church soon became a tourist destination for the common people of Nagasaki.

※I'm not familiar with Nagasaki City、the city of hills (however、it's the same everywhere in Japan)、but this church was probably built in a location on a hill that was easy to monitor.

And naturally、I think it was a Westerner who led the construction of this church、but I don't know whether it was Japanese carpenters who actually built the church. 2023091411:32 (japan time).

One night、while Father Petitjean、a French missionary、was praying in this church、a small group of Japanese people suddenly entered the church.

They all seemed to be farmers living nearby.

"They must have come to see this church too.''

That's what he seemed to think at first.

They were farmers in Urakami、a suburb of Nagasaki.

A middle-aged woman among them asked Father Petitjean in Japanese.

"Where is Maria sama？"

"We have the same faith as you."

They revealed their faith for the first time in 250 years.

※"Sama" is an honorific word that shows more respect than "san."

However、because of this、it gives a slightly more formal impression than "san".

By the way、"sama・様・さま" can be expressed in Chinese characters but "san・さん" of this meaning can not.

For example、pronunciation of number 3 is also "san・三・さん"、which can be expressed in Chinese characters.

And also、in Japanese、this Chinese character can also be pronounced as "mi・み" (lol).※

The general impression of Christians in Japan during the last 250 years was the same as that of medieval witches in the West.

It's just my feeling、but I think so.

※I think that's the general feeling of modern Japanese people.

In other words、professing the Christian faith was directly linked to their death.

Here in Nagasaki、Christians have been discovered and persecuted several times by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the past.

※They were tortured by the rulers until they renounced their faith.

Under such circumstances、they continued to maintain their faith for 250 years with their own strength.

Of course、the situation has not changed yet.

・・・・・・・・・

The Tokugawa Shogunate's method of investigating Christian believers was simple.

"Have the subjects step on a picture of Jesus and Mary.'"

This called "Efumi". 絵踏

※The literal translation is "stepping on (踏・fumi) a picture (絵・e)".　

This word is usually called "fumi-e"、but it seems that it is officially called "e-fumi".※

This "ritual" was performed regularly.

By the way、the Urakami area was said to have been the territory of the Society of Jesus before the era of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

"Perhaps there are still Christians in Urakami.''

This may have been unspoken common sense.

"Please step on that picture.

Appearance is important.

We don't care about the beliefs that lie deep within your heart.

Because it won't cause any problems."

The officials in charge of Efumi may have always thought so.

However、after this、they no longer hid their Christian faith at all.