The Seclusion of Japan (2024)

For nearly a century Japan, with approximately 500,000 Catholics by theearly 1600s, was the most spectacular success story in Asia for Europeanmissionaries. Why did so many convert? Some undoubtedly were attractedby the Christian message of salvation, but others hoped to gain economicor political advantage. The daimyo of Omura seems to have converted inthe hope of attracting more trade to his port city of Nagasaki, and OdaNobunaga (1534-1582) the general who unified approximately half of Japan,encouraged Christian missionaries to undermine the political influenceof the powerful and wealthy Buddhist monasteries. Nobunaga's toleranceof missionary activity was the main reason for the many converts in theregion around Kyoto, Japan's imperial city.

Although the dynamics of Japanese politics at first favored the Europeanmissionary effort, when those dynamics changed, Christianity was persecutedand finally crushed. Nobunaga's successor, Hideyoshi (15 36-1598), launchedthe antiforeign, anti-Christian policy that culminated in the Tokugawaexclusion edicts. Hideyoshi distrusted Europeans' motives after the Spaniardsconquered the Philippines and came to question the loyalty of certain dalmyowho had converted. In 1597 he ordered the execution by crucifixion of nineCatholic missionaries and seventeen Japanese converts. In their singlemindedpursuit of stability and order, the early Tokugawa also feared the subversivepotential of Christianity and quickly moved to obliterate it, even at theexpense of isolating Japan and ending a century of promising commercialcontacts with China, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Japan's isolation policy was fully implemented by Tokugawa Iemitsu, thegrandson of Ievasu and shogun from 1623 to 1641. He issued edicts thatessentially closed Japan to all foreigners and prevented Japanese fromleaving. The first of the following two documents, the most famous of Iemitsu'sedicts, is directed to the two commissioners of Nagasaki, a port city insouthern Japan and a center of Christianity; the second deals with thecontinuing missionary efforts of Portuguese Jesuits, who refused to abandontheir activities despite the regime's persecution.

QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS

1. According to the edict of 1635, what steps are to be takento suppress Christianity?
2. How are commercial dealings with foreigners to be handledbefore they are ended altogether?
3. In what ways did the 1635 edict affect the shogun's Japanesesubjects?
4. Does trade or Christianity seem to have been the greaterthreat to Japan, according to the 1635 edict?
5. What were the reasons for the promulgation of the 1639 edict?How did it differ from the 1635 edict?

1. Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to leave forforeign countries.
2. No Japanese is permitted to go abroad. If there isanyone who attempts to do so secretly, he must be executed. The ship soinvolved must be impounded and its owner arrested, and the matter mustbe reported to the higher authority.
3. If any Japanese returns from overseas after residingthere, he must be put to death.
4. If there is any place where the teachings of the [Catholic]priests is practiced, the two of you must order a thorough investigation.
5. Any informer revealing the whereabouts of the followersof the priests must be rewarded accordingly. If anyone reveals the whereaboutsof a high ranking priest, he must be given one hundred pieces of-silver.For those of lower ranks, depending on the deed, the reward must be setaccordingly.
6. If a foreign ship has an objection (to the measuresadopted) and it becomes necessary to report the matter to Edo,¹you may ask the Omura² domain to provideships to guard the foreign ship. . . .
7. If there are any Southern Barbarians³ whopropagate the teachings of the priests, or otherwise commit crimes, theymay be incarcerated in the prison. . . .
8. All incoming ships must be carefully searched forthe followers of the priests.

1 Modern Tokyo, the seat of the Tokugawagovernment.
2 The area around the city of Nagasaki.
3 Westerners.

9. No single trading city shall be permitted to purchaseall the merchandise brought by foreign ships.
10. Samurai⁴ are not permitted to purchaseany goods originating from foreign ships directly from Chinese merchantsin Nagasaki.
11. After a list of merchandise brought by foreign shipsis sent to Edo, as before you may order that commercial dealings may takeplace without waiting for a reply from Edo.
12. After settling the price, all white yarns⁵brought by foreign ships shall be allocated to the five tradingcities⁶ and other quarters as stipulated.
13. After settling the price of white yarns, other merchandise[brought by foreign ships] may be traded freely between the [licensed]dealers. However, in view of the fact that Chinese ships are small andcannot bring large consignments, you may issue orders of sale at your discretion.Additionally, payment for goods purchased must be made within twenty daysafter the price is set.
14. The date of departure homeward of foreign ships shallnot be later than the twentieth day of the ninth month. Any ships arrivingin Japan later than usual shall depart within fifty days of their arrival.As to the departure of Chinese ships, you may use your discretion to order their departure after the departureof the Portuguese galeota.⁷

4 Members of Japan's military aristocracy.
5 Raw silk.
6 The cities of Kyoto, Edo, Osaka, Sakai, and Nagasaki.

15. The goods brought by foreign ships which remainedunsold may not be deposited or accepted for deposit.
16. The arrival in Nagasaki of representatives of thefive trading cities shall not be later than the fifth day of the seventhmonth. Anyone arriving later than that date shall lose the quota assignedto his city.
17. Ships arriving in Hirado⁸ must sell theirraw silk at the price set in Nagasaki, and are not permitted to engagein business transactions until after the price is established in Nagasaki.

You are hereby required to act in accordance with theProvisions set above. It is so ordered.

7 A galleon, an oceangoing Portuguese ship.
8 A small island in southwest Japan, not far from Nagasaki.

1. The matter relating to the proscription of Christianityis known [to the Portuguese]. However, heretofore they have secretly transportedthose who are going to propagate that religion.
2. If those who believe in that religion band togetherin an attempt to do evil things, they must be subjected to punishment.
3. While those who believe in the preaching of the priestsare in hiding, there are incidents in which chat country [Portugal] hassent gifts to them for their sustenance.

In view of the above, hereafter entry by the Portuguesegaleota is forbidden. If they insist on coming [to Japan], the shipsmust be destroyed and anyone aboard those ships must be beheaded. We havereceived the above order and are thus transmitting it to you accordingly.

The above concerns our disposition with regard to thegaleota.

Memorandum

With regard to those who believe in Christianity, youare aware that there is a proscription, and thus knowing, you are not permittedto let priests and chose who believe in their preaching to come aboardyour ships. If there is any violation, all of you who are aboard will beconsidered culpable. If there is anyone who hides the fact that he is aChristian and boards your ship, you may report it to us. A substantialreward will be given to you for this information.

This memorandum is to be given to those who come on Chineseships. [A similar note to the Dutch ships.]