Michael Shin Maria Kannon

Overview

• Title: Avalokiteśvara's Manifestation as the Virgin Mary: The Jesuit Adaptation and Visual Conflation in Japanese Catholicism after 1614

• Author: Junhyoung Michael Shin

• Publication: Church History, March 2011, Vol. 80, No. 1

Jesuit Mission in Japan

• Jesuit mission began in Japan in 1549, led by St. Francis Xavier.

• Achieved significant conversion success over 50 years, reaching about 300,000 converts by 1614.

• The era ended with Tokugawa shogunate's prohibition of Christianity (1614).

• Initial conversion efforts met resistance, with earlier bans by rulers like Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587.

• Christians faced severe measures post-1614, including forced enrollment in Buddhist temples.

• Underground Christians (sempuku) secretly retained their faith, merging it with Buddhist practices to survive persecution.

Evolution of Underground Christianity

• Isolation from direct Jesuit supervision led to a unique blend of Catholic and Buddhist elements in underground practices.

• The term Kakure Kirishitan refers to hidden Christians who emerged post-persecution and distanced themselves from mainstream Catholicism.

• Anthropological and religious studies have examined this syncretism in depth.

The Role of Mariology and Buddhism

• Many underground Christians adopted Buddhist iconography, particularly Kannon (Avalokiteśvara).

• The emergence of Maria-Kannon, a syncretic figure combining the Virgin Mary and Kannon, exemplifies this blend.

• Studies indicate the choice of Kannon's imagery was motivated by her role as a compassionate savior, paralleling Christian beliefs about Mary.

• Rituals and iconography of both religions incorporated visual and verbal elements to support religious practices.

Jesuit Adaptation Strategies

• Jesuits adapted their teachings to resonate with existing Buddhist traditions, facilitating conversions despite their disdain for Buddhism.

• Jesuit methodologies included borrowing Buddhist terminology and concepts for Christian rituals.

• Jesuits aimed to familiarize Japanese people with Christianity by leveraging familiar cultural symbols.

Symbolism and Iconography

• Jesuit reports highlighted instances of conflated religious practices, reinforcing the notion of shared heavenly pathways.

• Underground Christians used The Rosary and Buddhist prayer techniques to maintain their faith, often blending the two.

• The Taima Mandara, a Pure Land Buddhist representation, was used alongside Christian symbols, displaying visual similarities to the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Conclusion

• The interplay of Christianity and Buddhism in Japan reflects the adaptability of religious symbols and practices amid persecution.

• Modern research continues to explore how syncretic practices of underground Christians contribute to the understanding of religious identity in Japan.

• Underground Christianity exemplifies a unique Japan-centric interpretation of faith that incorporates and transforms foreign ideologies within the local context.