Christian Samurai

Zaisho

Zaisho Shichiemon: when the priest reminded him that such defiance of his lord could be punished by death, Zaisho replied, "I know, but I have understood that salvation lies in the teaching of Jesus, and no one can separate me from Him." Four months later, he was ordered to renounce his faith. Zaisho replied, "I would obey in any other matter, but I cannot accept any order that is opposed to my eternal salvation." He was then executed in the street in front of his house.

Hagakure:

"Being a retainer [samurai] is nothing other than being a supporter of one's lord, entrusting matters of good and evil to him, and renouncing self-interest... when it comes to throwing away one's life for his lord all get weak in the knees. This is rather disgraceful. The fact that a useless person often becomes a matchless warrior at such times is because he has already given up his life and become one with his lord."

"The way of the samurai is found in death... This is the substance of the way of the samurai. If by setting his heart right every morining and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling."Zaisho understood, like all samurai, that he lived for the sake of his lord, and that he must live as already dead for his lord's sake. He therefore realized, perhaps better than we can, that in baptism he was dying in Christ. From then on was dead to the world, and free in the Way of Christ. Although he was still in the employ of his diaymo, it was clear to Zaisho that no other man - be it his employer, political ruler or neighbor could compromise his service to his Lord. After all, the very title of "samurai" literally means "one who serves," and as a samurai Zaisho's service, self-sacrifice, and resolve were the very definition of his honored position."If one were to say in a word what the condition of being a samurai is, its basis lies in seriously devoting one's body and soul to his master."Or, as we have heard it proclaimed so many times before, "Love the Lord your God with your heart and all your soul and all your mind." (Mt 22:37)

The samurai Zaisho Shichiemon was baptized on July 22, 1608. He took the name of Leo, that of the great pope who had halted the barbarian invasions. But his story much more closely resembles the life of Saint Justin, the second century philosopher who, after discovering the Truth in Christ, would not renounce him, and died as a martyr. Hangou Mitsuhisa, the feudal lord under whom Zaisho served, had prohibited his men from becoming Christians. The priest whom Zaisho asked to baptize him reminded him of this, telling him that he could be punished or even killed. "I know," he replied, "but I have understood that salvation lies in the teaching of Jesus, and no one can separate me from Him."

As in the case of many martyrs, this was not only a mental conviction, but a mystical relationship. One day, Zaisho told a friend, "I don't know how this happened, but I now find myself thinking about God constantly." He was arrested and ordered to renounce his faith. He answered, "I would obey in any other matter, but I cannot accept any order that is opposed to my eternal salvation." On the morning of November 17, 1608, four months after his baptism, he was executed in the street in front of his house.

Amakusa Shirō (天草 四郎?, 1621? – April 12, 1638) also known as Amakusa Shirō Tokisada (天草四郎時貞?) was the teenage leader of the Shimabara Rebellion.

The son of former Konishi clan retainer Masuda Jinbei (益田 甚兵衛?) (according to some sources, Shirō may have been the illegitimate son of Toyotomi Hideyori), Shirō was born in modern-day Kami-Amakusa, Kumamoto in a Catholic family. The charismatic 15-year-old was known to his followers as "heaven's messenger." Miraculous powers were attributed to him.[1]

Shiro led the defence of Hara Castle and defeated the strongest of the Shogunate attackers in a series of coordinated defensive surges. But, because the rebel force had no logistical support, their morale was seriously weakened in the following days. Shiro displayed posters in the castle in an attempt to enhance the morale of rebel force, saying "Now, those who accompany me in being besieged in this castle, will be my friends unto the next world." But a rebel soldier, Yamada Uemonsaku, betrayed Shiro and notified the Shogunate of the truth that rebel food supplies were becoming strained. The Shogunate forces performed a final assault, taking Hara Castle in the process. The Shogunate forces massacred almost 40,000 rebels, (37,000)including women and children. Yamada, who previously betrayed his fellow rebels, was the only recorded survivor.Shiro was executed in the aftermath of the fall, his head being displayed on a pike in Nagasaki for an extended period of time afterward as a warning to any other potential Christian rebels. His final words were: "I shall return after 100 years and take my revenge." Even now, many Japanese Christians consider Shiro as a saint, but the Roman Catholic Church has not officially listed him as such.

Dom Justo Takayama (1552 Haibara-cho, Nara, Japan – February 4, 1615 Manila, Philippines). He was a Kirishitan daimyo (Christian daimyo) and a Japanese Samurai who followed Christianity in the Sengoku period of Japan. Born Ukon Takayama, he later converted to Catholicism and was baptized with a catholic name (Dom Justo) in 1564, from which moment he became a devoted believer in Christian faith. Japan began its Catholic Holocaust (Kirishtan Holocaust) which claimed over 1 million Catholics and forced thousands to flee to Macau and Manila. On November 8, 1614 he was expelled, together with 300 Japanese Chistians and left from Nagasaki Japan. He arrived later to Manila on Dec. 21 and was greeted warmly by the Jesuits and the local Filipinos there.For those who reside/pass by Manila, specifically in Paco, you can see a statue of Dom Justo Takayama in Plaza Dilao, Manila. He is shown in the statue wearing warrior robes with his hair tied in a knot. He is carrying a sword that is pointed downward, upon which hangs a figure of the crucified Christ.

OTOMO SORIN (1530-87)

- A powerful Christian daimyo often in battle with the Shimazu and defeated by them at Mimigawa. His banners:

Konishi Yukinaga (小西 行長, baptised under the personal name Agostinho (Portuguese for Augustine); 1555 – November 6, 1600) was a Kirishitan daimyō under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Invasion of Korea 3 Sekigahara 4 References 5 Further reading

Early lifeKonishi Yukinaga was the son of a wealthy Sakai merchant, Konishi Ryūsa. His wife was also baptised under the name of Maria.[1]

In 1587, during the Invasion of Kyushu, he quelled the local uprising in Higo Province and was awarded a fief in that province.

Invasion of KoreaYukinaga led the initial forces under Toyotomi Hideyoshi to invade Korea in the Seven-Year War. He was noted for his role in the capture of Busan and Seoul and the defensive at Pyongyang. Afterwards, his vassal, Naitō Joan acted as the envoy to negotiate peace with Ming China.In order to achieve a truce, he negotiated a false surrender to China, although to Toyotomi Hideyoshi it was a truce between two equal states. Later, a Ming envoy came to Japan to award Toyotomi the position of the King of Japan. This enraged Hideyoshi and exposed the truth behind Yukinaga's earlier diplomatic mission and resultant deception. Despite the charge of disloyalty, Yukinaga again led forces alongside Katō Kiyomasa to invade Korea a second time. He defended Suncheon Castle, and repelled Ming (China) and Joseon allied forces.

SekigaharaAfter Hideyoshi's death, Yukinaga joined Ishida Mitsunari's side during the Battle of Sekigahara, but was ultimately defeated. He fled to Mount Ibuki, but was captured by Takenaka Shigekado's forces. Being a Christian, Yukinaga refused to commit suicide and was executed.

The Shogun in 1597 had decided to suppress the Christian faith as central to his policy of closing off Japan from Western influence. Nagasaki had a vibrant Christian community. The crucifixion there of Paul Miki and his companions was expected to terrorise that group of Christians into apostasy. The result was quite different. Paul Miki, a Jesuit priest convert from a family of Samurai warriors, intoned in Latin the Gloria In Excelsis Deo. The hymn was taken up by the others on their crosses. The Christians who had gathered joined in.

Paulo Miki was born into a wealthy Japanese family. He was educated by the Jesuits in Azuchi and Takatsuki. He joined the Society of Jesus and became a well known and successful preacher - gaining numerous converts to Catholicism. The Japanese daimyo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, fearful of the Jesuit's influence and intentions began persecuting Catholics. Miki was jailed, along with others. He and his fellow Catholics were forced to march 600 miles (966 kilometers) from Kyoto to Nagasaki; all the while singing the Te Deum. On arriving in Nagasaki, the city with the largest Catholic population in Japan, Miki was crucified on February 5, 1597. He preached his last sermon from the cross, and it is maintained that he forgave his executioners, stating that he himself was Japanese. Crucified longside him were Joan Soan (de Gotó) and Santiago Kisai, also of the Society of Jesus; along with twenty-three other clergy and laity, all of whom were canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862.

When asked how a samurai could become a Christian knowing full well that he could only serve one master?the Shogun?Shimahara says, "The priests were effective and exemplified many of the bushido traits of self-sacrifice and serving a master, their master being Christ. The Portuguese were passionate people able to make an arduous journey, and were focused and dedicated, traits that inspired the samurai. Also, there is evidence that many of the Christian samurai class or above took advantage of the situation because of trade knowing if they were Christian they would have an in with traders from Spain, Portugal and other European countries, so it was a motivating factor. There were earnest Christians, it was a new frontier and a new kind of thinking."