Gaspar Coelho
Gaspar Coelho (c. 1529
Early life
Coelho was born in
Work in Japan
Coelho first arrived in Japan around 1570, at the invitation of
Coelho became Superior of the Japan mission in September 1581, and was left in charge of the mission following Alessandro Valignano's departure in February 1582.[5] Following his appointment as superior, Coelho commissioned the building of a fusta warship for the Jesuits in Nagasaki, financed by local Portuguese merchants and crewed by Japanese Christians.[6]
Coelho supported Arima Harunobu in a 1584 victory in Shimabara against Ryūzōji Takanobu, who had threatened to crucify Coelho and give the port of Nagasaki to the soldiers of the Ryūzōji army. He lobbied other Christian samurai, as well as Christians in the Spanish Philippines, to support the Arima against the Ryūzōji.[7]
Relationship with Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan through a nine-year military campaign from 1582 to 1591.[8] Jesuit missionaries first arrived in Osaka, Hideyoshi's capital, in 1583, and Hideyoshi's court at Osaka Castle thereafter contained a number of Japanese Christians, including many women who became interested in the religion.[9]
Coelho visited Hideyoshi in Osaka in 1586. At this meeting, Hideyoshi asked Coelho to secure him two Portuguese ships for the invasion of Korea and China; Coelho not only agreed to the deal, but also suggested that the Society could acquire more troops from the Portuguese, and offered to rally Christian daimyo against the Shimazu clan.[10] This made Hideyoshi aware that Coelho may potentially create an axis of Christian domains with allegiance to a foreign religion.[11] Nevertheless, at the urging of his first wife, who had strong Christian sympathies, Hideyoshi issued permission letters to Coelho allowing Jesuit priests to reside freely in Japan; Hideyoshi also granted land near Osaka Castle to Coelho.[2] The permissions granted to Jesuits were superior to those granted to Buddhists at the time.[10]
Hideyoshi visited in Hakata in July 1587 following his successful conquest of Kyushu, and Coelho entertained Hideyoshi aboard his ship. After consulting with some of his advisors, Hideyoshi had Coelho roused in the middle of the night and asked a series of questions concerning the intentions of the mission. Coelho responded as best he could, but the next morning Hideyoshi issued an edict ordering all Jesuits to leave Japan within twenty days. While they were ultimately given more time for the Great Ship to arrive, Hideyoshi proceeded to ban Christian symbols and ordered Japanese Christians to recant on pain of death. Coelho then unsuccessfully attempted to procure arms from Goa, Macau and Manila in order to arm the Christian lords against Hideyoshi.[10] Hideyoshi never enforced the edict as he was fearful of disrupting trade links with Portugal; Christianity re-emerged in his court in the 1590s.[11]
Coelho died in 1590.[2]
References
- ^ ISBN 9781476624747.
- ^ a b c "Kirishitan History". www.stutler.cc. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
- ^ S2CID 229468278.
- ISBN 978-1-4411-4509-3.
- ^ ISBN 9781476624747.
- ISBN 9781476624747.
- ISBN 9781476624747.
- ISBN 9781849089944.
- ^ Kitagawa, Tomoko (2007). "The Conversion of Hideyoshi's Daughter Go". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 34/1: 9–25.
- ^ a b c "Hideyoshi and the Jesuits". press-files.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
- ^ ISBN 9780231518123.