Welcome!

Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.

Kirishitan Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

Study Hints Create Teach
Global Score: 0
Trophies: 0 🏆

‹ Back

Score: 0 / 100

Study Guide: Christianity in Japan: Mission, Persecution, and Legacy

Cheat Sheet:
Christianity in Japan: Mission, Persecution, and Legacy Study Guide

Early Encounters and Missionary Efforts

The Japanese term 'Kirishitan' exclusively refers to Catholic Christians in Japan during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term 'Kirishitan' specifically denotes Catholic Christians in Japan during the 16th and 17th centuries, originating from the Portuguese word 'cristão'.

Return to Game

The term 'Kirishitan' originates from the Spanish word 'cristiano.'

Answer: False

Explanation: The term 'Kirishitan' originates from the Portuguese word 'cristão,' not the Spanish 'cristiano.'

Return to Game

The Treaty of Tordesillas placed Japan within the Spanish sphere of influence for religious propagation.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) placed Japan within the Portuguese sphere of influence, granting Portugal the exclusive right to propagate Christianity there.

Return to Game

Francis Xavier arrived in Japan accompanied by missionaries Cosme de Torres and João Fernandes.

Answer: True

Explanation: Francis Xavier's initial mission to Japan in 1549 included fellow missionaries Cosme de Torres and João Fernandes.

Return to Game

Nagasaki's development into a major port city was significantly aided by the donation of land by Ōmura Sumitada for a Christian settlement.

Answer: True

Explanation: The daimyo Ōmura Sumitada's donation of land for a Christian settlement was instrumental in Nagasaki's growth as a major port city and center for Catholic activity.

Return to Game

During Oda Nobunaga's rule, Christianity was generally tolerated, facing few restrictions.

Answer: True

Explanation: Oda Nobunaga's era was characterized by relative tolerance towards Christianity, contrasting with the later policies of his successors.

Return to Game

The 'Nippo Jisho' was a Japanese-Portuguese dictionary that aided missionary efforts.

Answer: True

Explanation: This dictionary served as a crucial linguistic tool, facilitating communication and the dissemination of Christian doctrine.

Return to Game

What does the term 'Nanban' refer to in the context of Japanese history during the 16th and 17th centuries?

Answer: Portuguese and Spanish traders

Explanation: 'Nanban' (Southern Barbarians) was the term used in Japan to refer to the Portuguese and Spanish traders and missionaries who arrived from the south.

Return to Game

What is the Japanese term for Catholic Christians in Japan, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries?

Answer: Kirishitan

Explanation: 'Kirishitan' is the historical term used in Japan for Catholic Christians, derived from the Portuguese 'cristão.'

Return to Game

Which European powers were the primary founders of the Kirishitan presence in Japan?

Answer: Portugal and Spain

Explanation: Portuguese and Spanish missionaries, primarily Jesuits and Franciscans, were the principal agents in establishing Christianity in Japan.

Return to Game

According to the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), which nation held the exclusive right to propagate Christianity in Japan?

Answer: Portugal

Explanation: The treaty allocated Japan to the Portuguese sphere, granting them the exclusive right to evangelize the region.

Return to Game

Which missionary is credited with arriving in Japan in 1549 and marking the beginning of Catholic missionary activity?

Answer: Francis Xavier

Explanation: Francis Xavier's arrival in Kagoshima in 1549 is considered the commencement of Catholic missionary endeavors in Japan.

Return to Game

What role did Ōmura Sumitada play in the development of Nagasaki?

Answer: He donated land to establish a settlement for displaced Christians.

Explanation: Daimyo Ōmura Sumitada's donation of land was crucial for establishing Nagasaki as a Christian settlement and port.

Return to Game

What was the 'Nippo Jisho'?

Answer: A Japanese-Portuguese dictionary compiled by Jesuits

Explanation: The 'Nippo Jisho' was the first dictionary of the Japanese language published in collaboration with Portuguese missionaries.

Return to Game

Missionary Strategies and Cultural Adaptation

Jesuit missionaries in Japan primarily adopted a top-down approach, aiming to influence powerful individuals first.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Jesuits believed in a top-down strategy, focusing on converting influential figures before attempting to reach the general populace.

Return to Game

'Dōjuku,' 'kanbō,' and 'jihiyakusha' were groups of laymen who assisted clergymen.

Answer: True

Explanation: These terms refer to groups of laymen who played vital roles in supporting Christian life and activities within the Japanese mission.

Return to Game

Alessandro Valignano founded St. Paul's College in Macao to train Japanese clergy.

Answer: True

Explanation: Valignano established St. Paul's College in Macao as an institution dedicated to the education and training of Japanese clergy.

Return to Game

The Misericórdia institutions established by Jesuits in Japan primarily focused on managing hospitals and social welfare services.

Answer: True

Explanation: These institutions served as charitable organizations, providing essential services such as hospitals and broader social welfare support.

Return to Game

Alessandro Valignano advocated for respecting Japanese architectural traditions and consulting native builders.

Answer: True

Explanation: Valignano championed cultural accommodation, emphasizing the importance of integrating local architectural practices into mission construction.

Return to Game

Which of the following were groups of laymen who supported Christian life in Japan by assisting clergymen?

Answer: Dōjuku, Kanbō, Jihiyakusha

Explanation: These terms denote groups of lay assistants who provided essential support to the missionary efforts in Japan.

Return to Game

Alessandro Valignano founded St. Paul's College in which city to train Japanese clergy?

Answer: Macao

Explanation: St. Paul's College, established by Valignano for the training of Japanese clergy, was located in Macao.

Return to Game

Which of the following was a key contribution of Alessandro Valignano to the Jesuit mission in Japan?

Answer: He championed cultural adaptation and founded St. Paul's College in Macao.

Explanation: Valignano's significant contributions included advocating for cultural accommodation and establishing St. Paul's College for clergy training.

Return to Game

How did Alessandro Valignano approach the construction of Christian buildings in Japan?

Answer: He advocated for respecting local architectural traditions and consulting native builders.

Explanation: Valignano promoted the integration of local architectural customs and the involvement of native builders in constructing Christian edifices.

Return to Game

What was the primary function of the Misericórdia institutions established by the Jesuits in Nagasaki?

Answer: Charitable organizations managing hospitals and social welfare

Explanation: These institutions functioned as charitable bodies, providing essential services like healthcare and social support.

Return to Game

Government Policies and Edicts

Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Bateren Expulsion Edict in 1587 was significantly influenced by concerns over the spread of foreign religions.

Answer: True

Explanation: While religious concerns were a factor, historians suggest the edict was also driven by Hideyoshi's geopolitical strategies, economic considerations, and desire for consolidated authority.

Return to Game

The San Felipe incident led Toyotomi Hideyoshi to curb trade relations with Portugal and Spain.

Answer: True

Explanation: The incident, involving claims of Spanish colonial ambitions, made Hideyoshi suspicious, leading him to restrict trade while attempting to maintain diplomatic ties.

Return to Game

The Edo Shogunate viewed Protestant Europeans like the Dutch and English as similar to Catholics and imposed severe restrictions on them.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Shogunate considered Protestant and Catholic Europeans fundamentally alike in their foreignness and potential threat, applying similar restrictions to both.

Return to Game

Historians suggest Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Bateren Expulsion Edict was significantly influenced by religious nativism.

Answer: True

Explanation: While religious nativism played a role, historians emphasize the complex interplay of geopolitical, military, and consolidation-of-power motives behind the edict.

Return to Game

The Tokugawa Shogunate banned Christianity in 1614, citing that Christians contravened governmental regulations and calumniated the True Law.

Answer: True

Explanation: The official decree banning Christianity in 1614 articulated reasons such as contravening regulations and undermining established laws.

Return to Game

Hideyoshi declared Japan a 'Shinkoku' (Land of the Gods) to justify expelling foreign religions.

Answer: True

Explanation: The concept of 'Shinkoku' was invoked to assert Japan's divine nature and frame foreign religions as incompatible with its traditions.

Return to Game

Tokugawa Ieyasu eventually banned Catholicism entirely in 1614.

Answer: True

Explanation: Despite initial pragmatism, Tokugawa Ieyasu ultimately enacted a comprehensive ban on Catholicism in 1614.

Return to Game

The Sakoku Edict led to intensified persecution and drove the remaining Catholic community underground.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Sakoku Edict significantly curtailed foreign interaction, exacerbating the persecution of Christians and forcing many into secrecy.

Return to Game

The Bateren Edict was primarily aimed at controlling foreign influences and consolidating power.

Answer: True

Explanation: The edict served Hideyoshi's broader strategy of unifying Japan and managing foreign interactions, consolidating his authority by controlling external influences.

Return to Game

How did the Protestant nations of the Netherlands and England influence the Catholic presence in Japan?

Answer: They advised the Shogunate that Spain had territorial ambitions linked to Catholicism.

Explanation: Protestant traders informed the Japanese authorities about perceived Spanish colonial ambitions tied to Catholicism, influencing the Shogunate's policies against the Iberian powers.

Return to Game

Which of the following was NOT cited as a concern leading to Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Bateren Expulsion Edict in 1587?

Answer: The spread of Buddhist teachings

Explanation: Concerns cited included forced conversions, disruption of livestock, and potential territorial concessions, but not the spread of Buddhism.

Return to Game

What event involving a shipwrecked Spanish vessel made Toyotomi Hideyoshi suspicious of Christianity's potential colonial ambitions?

Answer: The San Felipe Incident

Explanation: The San Felipe incident, where a Spanish captain spoke of conquest, heightened Hideyoshi's suspicions regarding the political intentions behind Christianity.

Return to Game

How did the Edo Shogunate treat the Dutch warehouse in Hirado due to its association with Christianity?

Answer: It was demolished for bearing a Christian year.

Explanation: The Shogunate took punitive measures against foreign facilities, including the demolition of the Dutch warehouse for displaying Christian markers.

Return to Game

Historians suggest that Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Bateren Expulsion Edict was influenced by his declaration of Japan as a:

Answer: Divine Nation ('Shinkoku')

Explanation: Hideyoshi's proclamation of Japan as a 'Shinkoku' (Divine Nation) served as a justification for asserting cultural and religious exclusivity.

Return to Game

What was the primary impact of the Sakoku Edict on the Kirishitan community?

Answer: It drove the remaining Catholic community underground as 'Kakure Kirishitan.'

Explanation: The edict intensified persecution, forcing the clandestine continuation of Catholic practices among the 'Kakure Kirishitan.'

Return to Game

Persecution and Resistance

The Tokugawa Shogunate used 'fumi-e' as a method to identify and expose practicing Catholics by forcing them to step on images.

Answer: True

Explanation: 'Fumi-e' was a practice where individuals were compelled to trample on sacred images to demonstrate their non-Christian status.

Return to Game

The Shimabara Rebellion intensified Tokugawa Iemitsu's anti-Christian stance, leading to reinforced isolationist policies.

Answer: True

Explanation: The rebellion solidified the Shogunate's resolve against Christianity, contributing to stricter enforcement of isolationist policies.

Return to Game

'Kakure Kirishitan' maintained their faith through oral traditions.

Answer: True

Explanation: Hidden Christians, or 'Kakure Kirishitan,' preserved their faith primarily through the oral transmission of prayers and religious teachings.

Return to Game

The execution of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan in 1597 was triggered by the construction of a Franciscan church in Kyoto.

Answer: True

Explanation: The construction of a Franciscan church in Kyoto was cited as a primary catalyst for the executions of the Twenty-six Martyrs.

Return to Game

The Ōura Church became a site where hidden Kirishitan revealed themselves to French priests in 1865.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Ōura Church served as a crucial location for the re-emergence of hidden Christian communities during the Meiji Restoration period.

Return to Game

The 'terauke seido' system required individuals to register with Buddhist temples to prove they were not Christians.

Answer: True

Explanation: This system mandated registration with Buddhist temples, effectively making them instruments for verifying non-Christian status and ensuring social conformity.

Return to Game

The Catholic Church does not consider the participants of the Shimabara Rebellion to be martyrs for their faith.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Church's position is that the rebellion's primary motivations were materialistic and socio-economic, rather than purely religious martyrdom.

Return to Game

What was the purpose of the 'fumi-e' practice implemented by the Tokugawa Shogunate?

Answer: To identify and expose practicing Catholics

Explanation: The 'fumi-e' practice served as a state-sponsored method for detecting and persecuting individuals adhering to Catholicism.

Return to Game

The Shimabara Rebellion, though starting over economic hardship, intensified the Shogunate's stance against which religion?

Answer: Christianity

Explanation: The rebellion, which had a significant Christian component, led the Shogunate to adopt a more severe stance against Christianity.

Return to Game

How did the 'Kakure Kirishitan' primarily maintain their faith during periods of persecution?

Answer: Through oral traditions and passing down prayers.

Explanation: The preservation of faith relied heavily on oral transmission of prayers, biblical phrases, and religious knowledge across generations.

Return to Game

The execution of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan in 1597 was a response to:

Answer: The construction of a Franciscan church in Kyoto

Explanation: The construction of a Franciscan church was identified as a key factor leading to the execution of the Twenty-six Martyrs.

Return to Game

Which policy of the Tokugawa Shogunate required subjects to register at their local Buddhist temple?

Answer: Terauke Seido

Explanation: The 'terauke seido' mandated registration with Buddhist temples as a means of verifying non-Christian affiliation.

Return to Game

The Catholic Church's stance on the Shimabara Rebellion participants is that they are not martyrs because:

Answer: They took up arms primarily for materialistic reasons.

Explanation: The Church does not recognize them as martyrs because their rebellion was perceived to be motivated primarily by socio-economic grievances rather than solely religious conviction.

Return to Game

What historical event intensified Tokugawa Iemitsu's anti-Christian stance and led to reinforced isolationist policies?

Answer: The Shimabara Rebellion

Explanation: The Shimabara Rebellion significantly hardened Tokugawa Iemitsu's resolve against Christianity, leading to stricter enforcement of isolationist policies.

Return to Game

What was the primary purpose of the 'terauke seido' system established by the Tokugawa Shogunate?

Answer: To verify that individuals were not Christians and ensure social orthodoxy.

Explanation: The system aimed to confirm individuals' non-Christian status and maintain social order by linking registration to Buddhist temples.

Return to Game

Socio-Economic Impact and Controversies

The Jesuits primarily funded their missionary activities through trade profits and commercial activities.

Answer: True

Explanation: Jesuit missions often covered their expenses through profits generated from trade, including the silk trade between Macau and Nagasaki.

Return to Game

Missionaries sometimes engaged in military actions or provided military support to local leaders.

Answer: True

Explanation: Historical accounts indicate that missionaries occasionally provided military support to Christian daimyo facing threats from rivals.

Return to Game

The Goa Council of 1567 advised missionaries to ensure Japanese servants were released once their labor adequately compensated their protectors.

Answer: True

Explanation: The council recommended that servants who offered themselves for labor during times of hardship should be released once their service adequately compensated their benefactors.

Return to Game

Toyotomi Hideyoshi's administration actively encouraged the enslavement of Koreans during the invasions of Korea.

Answer: True

Explanation: Historical records indicate that Hideyoshi's military campaigns included the systematic enslavement of Korean populations.

Return to Game

Mendicant orders primarily criticized the Jesuits for their commercial activities and perceived corruption, rather than theological interpretations.

Answer: True

Explanation: The mendicant orders' criticisms focused heavily on the Jesuits' engagement in trade and alleged deviations from ideals of poverty.

Return to Game

Portuguese merchants began enslaving Japanese individuals as early as 1555.

Answer: True

Explanation: Evidence suggests that the Portuguese slave trade involving Japanese individuals commenced in the mid-16th century.

Return to Game

Historians suggest Toyotomi Hideyoshi's criticism of the slave trade was hypocritical due to his administration's enslavement of Koreans.

Answer: True

Explanation: Hideyoshi's condemnation of slavery contrasted with his administration's active participation in the enslavement of Koreans during military campaigns.

Return to Game

What was a major point of contention between the Jesuit missionaries and the mendicant orders (Franciscans and Dominicans) in Japan?

Answer: Commercial activities and access to Japan

Explanation: A significant conflict arose from the mendicant orders' accusations that the Jesuits engaged in corrupt commercial practices and sought preferential access to Japan.

Return to Game

What was a primary source of controversy regarding the Jesuits' economic activities in Japan?

Answer: They engaged in unauthorized markets and dealt in military supplies and slavery.

Explanation: Controversy arose from the Jesuits' involvement in various trade activities, including those deemed unauthorized and potentially exploitative.

Return to Game

According to the source, missionaries sometimes provided military support to which group?

Answer: Kirishitan daimyo threatened by rivals

Explanation: Missionaries occasionally offered military assistance to Christian daimyo who were facing threats from opposing factions.

Return to Game

The Goa Council of 1567 advised that Japanese individuals who offered themselves for labor during famines could be:

Answer: Released once their labor compensated their protectors

Explanation: The council recommended the release of such individuals once their labor had sufficiently compensated those who provided them sustenance or protection.

Return to Game

Which of the following actions did Toyotomi Hideyoshi's administration take regarding the slave trade?

Answer: Actively encouraged the enslavement of Koreans during invasions.

Explanation: Hideyoshi's administration facilitated the enslavement of Koreans during military campaigns, indicating a complex stance on the issue of human trafficking.

Return to Game

What criticisms did mendicant orders level against the Jesuits regarding their activities in Japan?

Answer: They were corrupt and engaged in practices contrary to honorable poverty.

Explanation: Mendicant orders accused the Jesuits of corruption and engaging in activities inconsistent with the principle of honorable poverty.

Return to Game

What historical evidence suggests a potential hypocrisy in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's policies towards slavery?

Answer: His administration enslaved Koreans during the invasions of Korea.

Explanation: Hideyoshi's administration's practice of enslaving Koreans during military campaigns raises questions about the sincerity of his criticisms regarding slavery.

Return to Game

Legacy and Cultural Representation

The Kirishitan gravestone discovered in Minamishimabara in 1929 is the oldest known inscription in Roman letters found in Japan.

Answer: True

Explanation: This artifact is significant as it represents the earliest known inscription in Roman letters discovered within Japan.

Return to Game

Japanese immigrants in New Spain achieved notable success in commerce and academia, despite being classified legally as 'Indios.'

Answer: True

Explanation: Despite legal classifications, Japanese émigrés in New Spain demonstrated significant success in various professional and economic sectors.

Return to Game

From the Sakoku period through the 19th century, Kirishitan were often portrayed in Japanese popular culture as grotesque and sinister deceivers embodying anxieties about Western influence.

Answer: True

Explanation: Literary and popular representations frequently depicted Kirishitan negatively, reflecting societal anxieties regarding foreign influence and cultural assimilation.

Return to Game

Nagasaki earned the nickname 'the Rome of Japan' due to its significant Catholic activity and Christian population.

Answer: True

Explanation: The city's prominence as a hub for Catholic missions and its substantial Christian populace led to its appellation as 'the Rome of Japan.'

Return to Game

What is the historical significance of the Kirishitan gravestone discovered in Minamishimabara in 1929?

Answer: It is the oldest known inscription in Roman letters found in Japan.

Explanation: This gravestone is historically significant as the earliest known example of Roman letter inscription discovered in Japan.

Return to Game

Nagasaki earned the nickname 'the Rome of Japan' primarily because:

Answer: It was a major center for Catholic activity and had a significant Christian population.

Explanation: Nagasaki's status as a principal hub for Catholic missions and its large Christian populace led to its comparison with Rome.

Return to Game

How were Kirishitan often portrayed in Japanese literature and popular culture from the Sakoku period through the 19th century?

Answer: As grotesque and sinister deceivers embodying anxieties about Western influence

Explanation: Popular culture frequently depicted Kirishitan as negative figures, reflecting societal anxieties about foreign influence and reinforcing notions of Japanese exceptionalism.

Return to Game