The Christian Era in Japan

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The Christian Era in Japan

In April, 1549, Xavier, Saint Francis left the Indo-Portuguese capital of Malacca on his first voyage to Japan. The Voyage went relatively fast and he arrived at the Kagoshima harbor, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Assumption. Xavier stepped off unto the shores of what he thought to be the Promised Land. Xavier landed with high hopes, nor were his expectations disappointed. Xavier, describe the people of Japan has having good manners, not malicious and men of honor. He also stated that they have one quality in which he cannot recall seeing in Christians; that is however poor their gentry might be they and the commoners however rich, give as much respect to a poor man in passing as if he were a rich person. He noticed the Japanese to be very courteous in their dealings with one another; they highly regard arms by carrying a sword and dirk from the age of fourteen onwards.

Xavier continued to admire the people of Japan to be of very good will, very sociable and very eager of knowledge. He was awed, because of all the lands to which he had seen, whether Christians or other never did he see people living so honestly. Xavier, Saint Francis remain in Japan for a short period of time he departed on November, 1551, nevertheless, he left behind him a promising Christian community of thousands. However, things became different after the departure of Xavier Christianity was forced unto many of the Japanese. Buddhism was suppressed and many of the temples and idols were burnt in an attempt to convert the Japanese. Many became converts before dying for example a old Daimyo died of cancer but on a final visit to the padres was baptized and converted to Christianity. This event resulted in the persecution of the Christians and Jesuits for three years. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was the dictator of the time although not quite an advocate of Buddhist images, was not involved in destroying them on occasions. When a Buddhist priest from Takayama appealed fro the protection of their temples from the Christians, Hideyoshi not only decline to intervene on their behalf but also ordered that the sacred images, which they had brought with them, be burnt for firewood at Kyoto. Hideyoshi did not convert to Christianity because it prevented him from having many women more ever, he asked the Jesuits to change this rule, and then will he convert to Christianity.

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