Amakusa collapse - Amakusa collapse

In the late Edo period, hidden Christians were arrested in Amakusa, Higo Province (Kumamoto Prefecture). Amakusa is made up of islands large and small, including Oyanoshima, Kamishima, and Shimoshima. It was Oyano, Kamishima, and eastern Shimoshima that participated in the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion (1637-1638), while Christians in western and southern Shimoshima continued to practice their faith in hiding. In 1805 (Bunka 2), the faith of over 5,000 people in the villages of Oe, Sakitsu, Imatomi, and Takahama was discovered, their religious implements were confiscated, and they were arrested. The following year, in 1806, the shogunate ruled that those who practiced a different religion and had a misunderstanding of the religious sect were to be subjected to a new efumi (a wooden painting) test, swear to reform, and have a seal affixed to their name, and the case was settled. During the investigation, the officials governing Amakusa adopted a gentle approach, calling the Christian faith a "different sect," out of fear of rebellions caused by harsh oppression, and to cover up any oversight in their crackdown. Christians in the region continued to hide until 1873 (Meiji 6), when the notices banning Christianity were removed, and they returned to Catholicism, with churches being built in Oe and Sakitsu.

[Sanae Murai]

[Registration as a World Heritage Site] Sakitsu Village was registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2018 (Heisei 30) as a component part of the "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region" (World Cultural Heritage Site).

[Editorial Department, September 19, 2018]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期、肥後国（熊本県）天草で隠れキリシタンが検挙された事件。天草は大矢野島(おおやのしま)、上島(かみしま)、下島(しもしま)などの大小の島々よりなるが、島原・天草一揆(いっき)（1637～1638）に参加したのは大矢野、上島、下島東部であり、下島西・南部のキリシタンはその後も潜伏して信仰を守り続けた。1805年（文化2）大江、崎津(さきつ)、今富、高浜の諸村で5000余人の信仰が露見し、信心具の没収、捕縛などが行われた。翌1806年、幕府の裁決により、「異宗信仰」「宗門心得違い」の者として改めて絵踏(えふみ)を行い、改心を誓って判を押させることにより、この一件は落着した。取調べの過程で天草支配の役人らが、キリシタン信仰を「異宗」とした穏便策をとったのは、過酷な弾圧による一揆を警戒し、また取締りの手落ちを糊塗(こと)するためだったといわれている。同地方のキリシタンはその後も潜伏を続け、1873年（明治6）キリシタン禁制高札撤去以後カトリックに復帰、大江、崎津に天主堂が建てられた。

［村井早苗］

〔世界遺産の登録〕崎津集落は、2018年（平成30）、ユネスコ（国連教育科学文化機関）により「長崎と天草地方の潜伏キリシタン関連遺産」の構成資産として、世界遺産の文化遺産に登録された（世界文化遺産）。

［編集部　2018年9月19日］

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