Sacred space and ritual in early modern Japan : the Christian community of Nagasaki (1569-1643)
This thesis argues that the production of sacred space and ritual is crucial to understanding the formation of Christian communities in early modern Japan. An analysis of the production of churches in Japan (chapter 1) lays the ground for a thorough exploration of the particular case of the Christian community of Nagasaki from 1569 to 1643 in the following chapters, I first address how Christians were involved in the foundation and design of the port and town, with a church as its symbolic centre (chapter 2), and the consequences for the Christian community when the administration rights over Nagasaki were donated to the Jesuits in 1580 (chapter 3). A decade of significant instability began in 1587, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the unifier of Japan, appropriated the town and issued a decree expelling the foreign missionaries, followed by an order in 1597 to close the Christian churches and to execute the recently-arrived Mendicant missionaries in Nagasaki (chapter 4). A golden decade began in 1601. After the bishop of Japan established his see in Nagasaki, the city became the centre of Japanese Christianity (chapter 5). Most significantly, the Catholic parish system was implemented, with the support of lay confraternities,
Tronu, Carla
Sacred space and ritual in early modern Japan : the Christian community of Nagasaki (1569-1643). This thesis argues that the production of sacred space and ritual is crucial to understanding the formation of Christian communities in early modern Japan. An analysis of the production of churches in Japan (chapter 1) lays the ground for a thorough exploration of the particular case of the Christian community of Nagasaki from 1569 to 1643 in the following chapters, I first address how Christians were involved in the foundation and design of the port and town, with a church as its symbolic centre (chapter 2), and the consequences for the Christian community when the administration rights over Nagasaki were donated to the Jesuits in 1580 (chapter 3). A decade of significant instability began in 1587, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the unifier of Japan, appropriated the town and issued a decree expelling the foreign missionaries, followed by an order in 1597 to close the Christian churches and to execute the recently-arrived Mendicant missionaries in Nagasaki (chapter 4). A golden decade began in 1601. After the bishop of Japan established his see in Nagasaki, the city became the centre of Japanese Christianity (chapter 5). Most significantly, the Catholic parish system was implemented, with the support of lay confraternities,
sacred_space ritual early_modern japan christian_community argues production sacred_space ritual crucial formation christian communities early_modern japan analysis production church japan lay ground thorough exploration particular_case christian_community following first address christians involved foundation design port town church symbolic centre consequence christian_community administration right jesuits decade significant instability begin japan appropriate town issue decree expel foreign missionary follow order close christian_church execute recently mendicant missionary begin bishop japan establish see city_become centre japanese christianity significantly catholic parish system implement support lay