The Hidden Christians Essay Example for Free

The Hidden Christians Essay The Portuguese Catholic Missionaries introduced Christianity in Japan in the 16th century. After its introduction the religion experienced unprecedented growth for about fifty years when the Tokugawa government under Hideyoshi, issued a decree outlawing the religion in 1614. This was because he was alarmed by the colonization and conversion of Philippines (Japan’s neighbor) by Spain. The edict led to the expulsion of the Christian missionaries from Japan. About 150,000 natives who had converted to Christianity went underground and continued to practice their faith secretly, they are known as the â€Å"Hidden Christians† because of their secretive nature. There followed widespread repression of the Christians who numbered about 750,000. Great repression was witnessed in the southern fringes of Japan where about 6,000 Christians were killed. The repression was to continue for almost 300 hundred years until the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1853 when the persecutions eased. In 1873 Christianity was legalized in Japan. Missionaries returned again in the late 19th century in the southern islands of Japan that are remote to coax about 50,000 of the hidden Christians to come out in the open. After the isolation ended some of the hidden Christians continued to practice the secretive belief that had been handed down to them by their ancestors. There are some of the hidden Christians today in Japan. The belief and practices entail the existence of three persons who are responsible for leading various ceremonies, conducting of baptisms, and helping out in ceremonies including maintaining some level of contact between the members. Four fundamental issues that include Polytheism, Present gain, ancestor worship and ritualism on the other hand characterize the belief system. Today the faith of the hidden Christians is facing one of its greatest challenges. Instead of the persecutors of yester years the faith is facing indifference especially from the young generation who lack the time to learn the ancient chants. Works Cited Ann m. Harrington: Japans Hidden Christians Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1993. P12-14 Miyazaki Kentaro: Hidden Christians in contemporary Nagasaki: Retrieved on 24th April from http://www. uwosh. edu/faculty_staff/earns/miyazaki. html Turnbull,Stephen: The Kakure Kirishitan of Japan. Japan Library. Curzon Press. 1998 12-14 Thelle, Notto R.: Buddhism and Christianity in Japan: From conflict to dialogue: 1854 1899. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1987 34-35 New York Times Article: Lack of Oppression Hurts Christianity in Japan: Apr. 3, 1997 James Brooke: Once Banned, Christianity Withers in an Old Stronghold: Ikitsuki Journal; December 25, 2003 Retrieved on 24th April from http://query. nytimes. com/gst/fullpage. html? res=9B02EFDC163EF936A15751C1A9659C8B63 www. reuters. com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUST14106220071219: Japans Hidden Christians face extinction: Article dated19 Dec 2007:Retrieved on 24th April 2008