Europeans and Christianity as a threat to the social order of Edo Japan

Abstract

Since the 17th century the antichristian persecutions in Japan were related to the reform of the Tokugawa regime. The Western religion started to be perceived as an internal and external threat to the unity of the state, its sovereignty and stability. The sources for this article have been selected from the most representative works of Japanese anti­‑Christian literature. Religious arguments against Christianity are shown from the Confucian and Buddhist perspective. Many writers from the Edo period saw Christianity as similar and distorted teaching of Buddhism. For the Japanese one of the most controversial was the doctrine on God as the supreme ruler, to whom everyone was subjected to, which could have a negative effect on maintaining traditional relationships and duties in a society. Mito school brought against Christianity the argument which can be described as political (also ethical) – that this teaching was the reason for the decay of Japanese society. In addition, some authors believed that Christianity served as a tool for the colonization of Japan by foreign powers. This heretical (Christian) teaching contributed to some extent to consolidation of Japanese identity by becoming the target of Japanese attacks and polemics. Missionaries and converters became „others,” to whom demonic and inhuman look was attributed, supernatural abilities. Infidels were also stigmatized by the most condemned features in Japanese society. This applied both to foreign missionaries and native converts. The state apparatus of the Edo period gave rise to many mechanisms strengthening its control over the whole society. As the result, Christianity was successfully eradicated (leaving only isolated communities of hidden Christians).