Martyrs of Japan

The Martyrs of Japan (日本の殉教者 Nihon no junkyōsha) were Christian missionaries and followers who were persecuted and executed for their faith in Japan, mostly during the Tokugawa shogunate period in the 17th century.

The 26 Martyrs of Japan at Nagasaki. (1628 engraving)

Early Christianity in Japan

Christian missionaries arrived with Francis Xavier and the Jesuits in the 1540s and briefly flourished, with over 100,000 converts, including many daimyo in Kyushu. The shogunate and imperial government at first supported the Catholic mission and the missionaries, thinking that they would reduce the power of the Buddhist monks, and help trade with Spain and Portugal. However, the Shogunate was also wary of colonialism, seeing that the Spanish had taken power in the Philippines, after converting the population. It soon met resistance from the highest office holders of Japan.[1] Emperor Ogimachi issued edicts to ban Catholicism in 1565 and 1568, but to little effect. Beginning in 1587 with imperial regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s ban on Jesuit missionaries, Christianity was repressed as a threat to national unity.[2] After the Tokugawa shogunate banned Christianity in 1620, it ceased to exist publicly. Many Catholics went underground, becoming hidden Christians (隠れキリシタン kakure kirishitan), while others lost their lives. Only after the Meiji Restoration, was Christianity re-established in Japan.

26 Martyrs of Japan (1597)

The Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan (日本二十六聖人 Nihon Nijūroku Seijin) refers to a group of Christians who were executed by crucifixion on February 5, 1597 at Nagasaki.

Through the promulgation of decree on martyrdom, these first Martyrs of Japan were beatified on 14 September 1627 by Pope Urban VIII. These saints were canonized saints on 8 June 1862 by Pope Pius IX.[3]

205 Martyrs of Japan (1598–1632)

Main article: 205 Martyrs of Japan
The Christian martyrs of Nagasaki. 16th/17th-century Japanese painting.

Persecution continued sporadically and over a period of 15 years, between 1617 and 1632, 205 missionaries and native Christians were executed for their faith. Christian teaching disintegrated until the arrival of Western missionaries in the nineteenth century.

Through the promulgation of decree on martyrdom, these 205 Martyrs of Japan were venerated on 26 February 1866 and beatified on 7 May 1867, by Pope Pius IX.[4]

Augustine Recollects Martyrs (1632)

Main articles: Martin Lumbreras Peralta and Melchior Sanchez Perez

Two Spanish Augustinians arrived in Japan in the later half of 1632 from Manila to evangelize the Japanese. Upon arrival, the Japanese authorities were notified by Chinese traders that gave them passage. They fled to mountains, where Dominican missionaries instructed them in the language of the country. As these two priests descended to the city, they were recognized and arrested during November 1632. On 11 December 1632, they were martyred for their faith.[5]

Through the promulgation of decree on martyrdom, these two Augustinian Martyrs of Japan were venerated on 28 November 1988 and beatified on 23 April 1989, by Pope John Paul II.[4]

16 Martyrs of Japan (1633–1637)

Main article: 16 Martyrs of Japan

The martyrdom continued on with a group of missionaries and natives that belonged to the Philippine Province of the Dominican Order, called the Holy Rosary Province.[6]

Through the promulgation of decree on martyrdom, these 205 Martyrs of Japan were venerated on 11 October 1980 and beatified on 18 February 1981, by Pope John Paul II.[7] They were later canonized saints on 18 October 1987, by Pope John Paul II.[8]

188 Martyrs of Japan (1603-1639)

These martyrs are additional religious priests and laity murdered for their faith between the years 1603 and 1639.

Through the promulgation of decree on martyrdom, these 188 Martyrs of Japan were venerated on 1 June 2007 and beatified on 24 November 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Brodrick, James (1952). Saint Francis Xavier (1506–1552). London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd. p. 558.
  2. ↑ Jansen, Marius (2000). The Making of Modern Japan. Harvard University Press.
  3. ↑ Martyrs of Japan (1597–1637) at Hagiography Circle
  4. 1 2 Martyrs of Japan (1597–1637) at Hagiography Circle
  5. ↑ Blessed Martin Lumbreras Sanchez Perez Peralta and Melchiorre Sanchez, December 11
  6. ↑ >Holböck, Ferdinand (2000). New Saints and Blesseds of the Catholic Church (1979-1983) Vol. I. Ignatius.
  7. ↑ USCCB (Office of Media Relations) – Beatifications During Pope John Paul II’s Pontificate
  8. ↑ Lawrence Ruiz and companions from the Vatican website
  9. ↑ Martyrs of Japan (1603–39) at Hagiography Circle
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