Nagasaki : A Uniquely Japanese Form of Christian Belief

長崎：日本独自のキリスト教信仰のかたち

The Continuation and Transition of Hidden Christian Belief

From the Story of Nagasaki to the Story of the World

Japan lies at the far eastern edge of the area in which Catholicism was introduced during the Age of Exploration. The Nagasaki region, located in the western part of Kyushu in the south-western part of the archipelago, has served as Japan’s gateway for exchanges with the Asian Continent since antiquity and, in the latter half of the 16th century, Catholic missionaries were very active throughout the region. As a result, newly-baptized Japanese in the region could receive pastoral guidance from those missionaries over a longer period than anywhere else in Japan, and Catholic communities became firmly established there.

Based on these communities, even after Japan banned Christianity in the 17th century with not a single missionary being allowed to remain in Japan, some Catholics in the Nagasaki region nurtured their own unique religious system and continued to practice their faith in secret whilst coexisting with conventional society and its religions. After the prohibition was lifted in the latter half of the 19th century, the faithful, who had remained hidden for 250 years, returned to Catholicism and, together with foreign missionaries, built churches in each hidden Christian village.

The quiet churches located in the mountains and island inlets of Nagasaki whisper the story of Christians who kept their faith in those small villages and passed it down from generation to generation throughout the period of religious persecution and concealment.

潜伏キリシタン信仰継続の変遷

“長崎の物語”を“世界の物語”へ

大航海時代を背景とした世界のキリスト教宣教地の東端である日本。その日本列島の

南西部、九州の西端に位置する長崎地方は、古代より日本と大陸の架け橋となっていたこ

ともあり、16世紀後半から最も集中的にキリスト教の宣教が行なわれた地域です。その結果、洗礼を受けたキリシタンたちは、日本の他の地域に比べて長期にわたって宣教師の指導を受けることとなり、信徒の間に強固な共同体が形成されました。

これにより、キリスト教が禁じられていく中でも、日本の伝統的宗教や一般社会と共生しながらひそかに信仰を続けていくという、長崎地方独特の信仰のかたちが育まれました。

19世紀後半の解禁後、250年の潜伏を経てカトリックに復帰した信徒は、外国人宣教師とともに、潜伏してきたそれぞれの集落に教会堂を建設しました。

長崎地方の山間部や島々の入り江に今もひっそりと立つ教会堂の数々は、潜伏キリシタンの時代からそれぞれの集落で信仰が守られ、継承されてきたことを静かに物語っています。

Those who secretly continued their Christian-derived faith from the 17th to 19th centuries when Christianity was forbidden in Japan are known as Hidden Christians.

キリスト教が禁じられていた17～19世紀の日本において、ひそかにキリスト教由来の信仰を続けていた人々のことを「潜伏キリシタン」と呼びます。

 

Traditions, Transitions and Inheritance of Continued Faith

信仰継続の伝統、その変遷をひもとき、伝える

Tsutomu Ikeda / 池田 勉

The Beginning of Tradition

Catholicism was first introduced to Japan by a Jesuit priest, Francis Xavier, in 1549. It spread nationwide due to the evangelizing activities of the Jesuits who came to Japan after Xavier, and also due to the protection afforded by baptized feudal lords (Kirishitan Daimyo) who sought to profit from overseas trade. However, the ban on Christianity, which had begun with an edict issued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi expelling the missionaries, was tightened under the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ordered the destruction of all the churches in Japan. In 1637, during the nationwide ban on Christianity, the remaining Catholics took up arms against the tyranny of their local lord and were besieged in Hara Castle. The Shogunate was shocked at this Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion and adopted its national seclusion policy to prohibit the arrival of Portuguese ships that could be used to smuggle missionaries into Japan. After the last missionary within Japan had been martyred in 1644, the remaining Japanese Catholics could only maintain their faith and communities on their own in secret. Many such communities disintegrated in rapid succession in the latter half of the 17th century due to a series of large-scale crackdowns on remaining Catholics, forcing them to either renounce their religious faith or be martyred.

伝統のはじまり

1549年、イエズス会宣教師フランシスコ・ザビエルによって伝えられた日本のキリスト教は、その後来日した宣教師たちの宣教活動や、南蛮貿易の利益を求めて改宗したキリシタン大名の擁護によって全国に広まりました。しかし、豊臣秀吉の伴天連追放令に続く江戸幕府の禁教令により、教会堂は破棄され、宣教師は国外へ追放されました。1637年、禁教 が深まる中、圧政をきっかけにキリシタンが立ち上がり「原城跡」に立てこもった「島原・天草一揆」に衝撃を受けた幕府は、宣教師の潜入の可能性のあるポルトガル船を追放し、海禁体制を確立しました。1644年には最後の宣教師が 殉教。残されたキリシタンは、民衆レベルの共同体を維持しながら潜伏して信仰を続けましたが、17世紀後半に起こった大規模なキリシタン摘発事件によって順次崩壊し、信徒の多くが棄教、殉教しました。

Remains of Hara Castle

The setting for the Shimabara-Amakusa rebellion– a place that led to the establishment of Japan’s policy of national isolation and Hidden Christians who had to continue the faith in their own ways.

原城跡

「島原・天草一揆」の舞台。海禁体制の確立につながり、潜伏キリシタンが自らのかたちで信仰を続けるきっかけとなった場所

Formation of Tradition

Hidden Christian communities disappeared from Japan except in the Nagasaki region, where Catholic missionary activities had taken place more extensively than in any other parts of the country during the initial phase of the introduction of Catholicism. This region provided the bedrock for the maintenance of the secret faith even into the 18th century and afterwards. In order to continue the faith in secret, each village developed its own particular forms of practicing Christian faith. Some Hidden Christians substituted everyday objects as devotional items or combined their faith with common Shinto practice.

伝統の形成

日本各地の潜伏キリシタンは途絶えていきましたが、キリスト教の伝来期に最も集中的に宣教が行なわれた長崎地方においては18世紀以降も共同体が維持され、次第に日本独自の信仰のかたちが育まれていきました。信仰を隠しながら続けていくために、身近なものを信心具として代用したり、神社に自分たちの信仰対象を重ねて拝むなど、様々な信仰形態がそれぞれの集落で形成されました。

Kasuga Village and Sacred Places in Hirado [Kasuga Village and Mt.Yasumandake] and [Nakaenoshima Island] 

This village secretly kept the faith while worshipping the mountain and the island as sacred places and the martyrdom site.

 平戸の聖地と集落 [ 春日集落と安満岳 ] と [ 中江ノ島 ]

山岳や島を聖地や殉教地として崇敬しながら、ひそかに信仰を続けた集落

Shitsu Village in Sotome

This village maintained holy images for worship, continuing the faith by passing down Catholic catechism, the liturgical calendar, etc. The photo shows the Plaquette of the Immaculate Conception, which was handed down in secret (now kept in the Father de Rotz Memorial in Nagasaki City).

外海(そとめ)の出津(しつ)集落

聖画像をひそかに拝み、教理書、教会暦などを伝承して信仰を続けた集落。写真はひそかに伝承した「無原罪のプラケット」(長崎市ド・ロ神父記念館所蔵)

Ono Village in Sotome

As an early Japanese Catholic is enshrined in Kado Shrine, Hidden Christians continued their faith under the guise of the Shinto faith by secretly venerating objects of worship at the local shrines.

外海(そとめ)の大野集落

キリシタンを神社として祀る「門神社」に見られるように、神道の信仰を装いながら、神社に自らの信仰の対象をひそかにまつって信仰を続けた集落

Inheritance of Tradition

At the end of the 18th century, remote islands were settled by migration, and among these migrants were many Hidden Christians seeking to escape the intense search for Christians. Taking into consideration ways to live alongside Japan’s existing society and religions, the migrants moved to undeveloped land and places sacred to the Shinto faith. Specific sites and devotional tools provided a focus for the Hidden Christian faith, and the migration of Hidden Christians contributed to the continuation of their religious beliefs for over two centuries.

伝統の継承

18世紀の終わりになると、離島などへ開拓移住が行なわれ、その中には厳しい探索から逃れるように潜伏キリシタンが多く含まれていました。移住にあたっては、未開発地や神道の聖地など、既存の社会や宗教との折り合いのつけ方を考慮して移住先が選ばれました。このような独自の信仰対象や、移住にあたっての選地によって培われた独自の信仰のかたちにより、2世紀にわたって潜伏キリシタンの信仰が継承されました。

Villages on Kuroshima Island

Hidden Christians maintained their faith in these villages by praying to the Maria Kannon statue in a Buddhist temple after their migration to former clan pasturelands in need of redevelopment. The photo shows Kuroshima Church.

黒島の集落

平戸藩の牧場跡の再開発地に移住し、仏教寺院でマリア観音に祈りを捧げながら信仰を続けた集落。写真は「黒島天主堂」

Remains of Villages on Nozaki Island

Here the villages were built on steeply sloping terrain. Hidden Christians continued to practice their faith after migrating to the island, regarded as sacred by Shinto believers. The photo shows Okinokojima Shrine, whose worshippers spread all over the Goto Islands.

野崎島の集落跡

神道の聖地であった島に移住し、険しい斜面地を開拓しながら信仰を続けた集落。写真は五島列島一円から崇敬を集めていた「沖ノ神嶋神社」

Villages on Kashiragashima Island

Hidden Christians moved to the island that was once used for the sick under the leadership of a Buddhist man. Their villages include Shirahama Village in the photo.

頭ヶ島(かしらがしま)の集落

写真の「白浜集落」のように病人の療養地として使われていた島に仏教徒の開拓指導者のもとで移住し、信仰を続けた集落

Tsutomu Ikeda / 池田 勉

Villages on Hisaka Island

Undeveloped land on the island was settled by migration, following the policies of the ruling Goto clan, and the Christian faith was continued through relationships of mutual assistance with established Buddhist communities. The photo shows Obiraki Village pioneered in conjunction with local Buddhists.

久賀島(ひさかじま)の集落

五島藩の政策に従って島の未開地に移住し、仏教集落の島民と互助関係を築いて信仰を続けた集落。写真は先住者の仏教徒と共に開拓した「大開集落」

Egami Village on Naru Island (Egami Church and its Surroundings)

This village was established by Hidden Christians who migrated to a valley near the seacoast, isolated from the pre-existing villages, and they later built a church after the ban on Christianity was lifted. The conventional church design was adapted to take the characteristic topography of the village into account.

奈留島(なるしま)の江上集落 (江上天主堂とその周辺)

島の人里離れた海に近い谷間に移住し、解禁後、地勢に適応した教会堂を建設した集落

Oura Cathedral

This was the setting for “Discovery of Hidden Christians,” when the believers encountered Christian missionaries for the first time in two centuries and confessed their faith.

大浦天主堂

2世紀ぶりに潜伏キリシタンと宣教師が出会い、信仰を告白した「使徒発見」の舞台

PREFECTURE INFORMATION

Located in the southwest of Japan, Nagasaki Prefecture is surrounded by sea and mountains on every side and boasts a great deal of spectacular natural scenery. Nagasaki also has a unique culture and history that stems from its long history of interaction with foreign countries and European and Chinese influences, as it was the only point for overseas contact during Japan’s long period of national isolation. The prefecture is also full of diverse attractions such as fantastic night views – recognized as being among the world’s three best modern night views – old-fashioned streetscapes peculiar to Japan, sightseeing destinations including some of Japan’s best theme parks, a wealth of hot springs and dining options, especially its fresh seafood, and much more.

【Tourism website】https://travel.at-nagasaki.jp/

県情報

長崎県は日本の南西に位置し、四方を海と山に囲まれ、美しい自然景観が数多くある。また、昔から海外との交流が盛んで、鎖国時代は日本唯一の海外との窓口であったため、ヨーロッパや中国などの影響を受け、独特の文化、歴史を有している。その他、世界新三大夜景に認定された夜景や、日本独特の古い街並み、日本有数のテーマパークなどの観光スポット、新鮮な魚介類をはじめとする食や温泉など、様々な魅力に溢れている。

【観光のサイト】https://www.nagasaki-tabinet.com/

日本語：

総合ポータルサイト http://kirishitan.jp/

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