No, it is not a myth. The Tokugawa Bakufu/Shogunate brought in the period of Sakoku/isolation. Jesuits were using religion to take control over the country and Tokugawa saw what was happening and not only kicked out the foreigners, but massacred Japanese Christians. Only the Dutch were allowed to trade and had access to Nagasaki. I've walked those streets and enjoyed the Dutch architecture myself. The Dutch were Protestant and were not up to the shenanigans that the Catholics/Jesuits were. (Interestingly enough, that same group really screwed their chance of China becoming a Christian nation too, when the Vatican tried to micromanage proselytization of China long-distance.) But outside of Nagasaki, the rest of the country was closed to the rest of the world.
Japanese elementary children know who Commodore Perry was, but he's not well-known at all in the USA. He was the emissary sent to Japan to open the country at gunpoint, which ushered in the Meiji Era. Then the banksters got involved, with Jacob Schiff manipulating Japan to go to war with Russia to weaken it for the communists to take over. I'm sure they were egging Japan on to become imperialist with the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (which was rather one-sided as far as "co-prosperity" goes).
Yes, there were samurai emissaries who went as far as the Vatican during the Sengoku Period. Nobunaga was a Christian himself, and he was the one who unified Japan. That all ended during the period of isolation.
Being aware and being open are not the same thing.
During that period (later 1500s, early 1600s) Hideyoshi attempted to invade Korea and take it over. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi's predecessor, apparently engaged with the Vatican and Jesuits because he wanted to gain the benefits of technology, etc. But Tokugawa, how came after Hideyoshi, shut the whole thing down and it began a capital crime to enter or leave Japan.
The exceptions were the Dutch, as Steve mentions.
However, Steve, this is the first I've heard of Nobunaga being Christian. I'm wondering where you're sourcing that from?
There was a historic event where Christian’s held up at a castle and were starved to death by the shogun. This was due to the Shogun not liking people to have higher authority than themselves, as Christians easily became revels.
Perhaps my memory failed me. I could have sworn that I had read that he was Christian. IIRC, he had priests pray for him before battles. I saw this depicted in a movie once.
Japanfag has entered the chat!
No, it is not a myth. The Tokugawa Bakufu/Shogunate brought in the period of Sakoku/isolation. Jesuits were using religion to take control over the country and Tokugawa saw what was happening and not only kicked out the foreigners, but massacred Japanese Christians. Only the Dutch were allowed to trade and had access to Nagasaki. I've walked those streets and enjoyed the Dutch architecture myself. The Dutch were Protestant and were not up to the shenanigans that the Catholics/Jesuits were. (Interestingly enough, that same group really screwed their chance of China becoming a Christian nation too, when the Vatican tried to micromanage proselytization of China long-distance.) But outside of Nagasaki, the rest of the country was closed to the rest of the world.
Japanese elementary children know who Commodore Perry was, but he's not well-known at all in the USA. He was the emissary sent to Japan to open the country at gunpoint, which ushered in the Meiji Era. Then the banksters got involved, with Jacob Schiff manipulating Japan to go to war with Russia to weaken it for the communists to take over. I'm sure they were egging Japan on to become imperialist with the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (which was rather one-sided as far as "co-prosperity" goes).
Yes, there were samurai emissaries who went as far as the Vatican during the Sengoku Period. Nobunaga was a Christian himself, and he was the one who unified Japan. That all ended during the period of isolation.
Thanks for some insight there.
My point was that Japan was open and well aware of others as far back as 1400-1600
Being aware and being open are not the same thing.
During that period (later 1500s, early 1600s) Hideyoshi attempted to invade Korea and take it over. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi's predecessor, apparently engaged with the Vatican and Jesuits because he wanted to gain the benefits of technology, etc. But Tokugawa, how came after Hideyoshi, shut the whole thing down and it began a capital crime to enter or leave Japan.
The exceptions were the Dutch, as Steve mentions.
However, Steve, this is the first I've heard of Nobunaga being Christian. I'm wondering where you're sourcing that from?
There was a historic event where Christian’s held up at a castle and were starved to death by the shogun. This was due to the Shogun not liking people to have higher authority than themselves, as Christians easily became revels.
Sourcing from my memory of what history books I had read. Although this says he embraced Christianity politically but not accepted it personally.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oda-Nobunaga
This also gives some interesting information.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/
Perhaps my memory failed me. I could have sworn that I had read that he was Christian. IIRC, he had priests pray for him before battles. I saw this depicted in a movie once.
Steve, if you are insinuating that I'm not a Japanfag, I may have to file a complaint with the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan District Court.
Just saying.
Well, I am Japanfaggier than you. So there.
I didn't think it was a competition...
:p