Interactions Between Rivals: The Christian Mission and Buddhist Sects in Japan (c.1549-c.1647)

This volume explores the complex interactions between southern European Catholics and the Japanese in early modern times, examining how missionaries negotiated power dynamics and created new relational spaces and identities through processes of cooperation, acceptance, confrontation, dialogue, and imposition.

Format: Hardback
Length: 516 pages
Publication date: 11 March 2022
Publisher: Peter Lang AG

This comprehensive volume delves into the intricate and multifaceted interactions between Southern European Catholics and the Japanese during the early modern period. Spanning a range of political, military, and cultural dynamics, the relations between these two groups were characterized by profound variability and asymmetry. At times, the political-military elites of Japan exhibited a range of behaviors, from favoring and promoting European presence and mission work to opposing and strictly controlling it. In this complex landscape, missionaries, particularly the Jesuits, sought to navigate the power dynamics with their Japanese counterparts.

Through a series of essays, this collection explores the intricate religious and cultural exchanges between the Christian missions and the Buddhist sects. It examines the processes of cooperation, acceptance, confrontation, rejection, dialogue, and imposition that shaped these interactions, leading to the creation of new relational spaces and identities. The authors analyze how these encounters unfolded, shedding light on the complex web of cultural, religious, and social factors that influenced them.

One of the key themes that emerge from the essays is the role of religion in shaping these interactions. The authors highlight how both the Christian missions and the Buddhist sects sought to propagate their respective beliefs and practices, often encountering resistance and opposition from their Japanese counterparts. However, they also note how these encounters led to the cross-pollination of ideas and the emergence of new hybrid forms of religion and spirituality.

Another important aspect of the volume is the exploration of cultural differences and similarities between the Southern European Catholics and the Japanese. The authors note how the Japanese culture, with its emphasis on hierarchy, ritual, and group identity, posed unique challenges and opportunities for the Christian missionaries. At the same time, the missionaries brought with them their own cultural baggage, including religious practices, social structures, and artistic traditions, which were absorbed and transformed by the Japanese.

The essays in this collection also shed light on the complex power dynamics that played out in these interactions. The Japanese political-military elites, while often seeking to control and regulate the European presence, were also influenced by the missionaries and their teachings. The missionaries, in turn, had to navigate the delicate balance between advocating for their religious beliefs and respecting the cultural and political norms of the Japanese society.

Overall, this volume provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex and multifaceted interactions between Southern European Catholics and the Japanese during the early modern period. It offers valuable insights into the role of religion, culture, and power in shaping these interactions and their lasting impact on both societies.

Weight: 728g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783631667163
Edition number: New ed