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Important Spanish account of missionary activities in Japan in excellent, contemporary parchment binding

PIÑEYRO, Luys.
Relacion del sucesso que tuuo nuestra santa fe en los reynos del Iapon, desde el año de seyscientos y doze hasta el de seyscientos u quinze, Imperando Cubosama.
Madrid, widow of Alonso M. de Balboa, 1617. Folio. With woodcut coat of arms on title-page, repeated at the end of books 1, 2 and 3. Contemporary parchment. [16], 516, [8] pp.
€ 31,500
Rare first edition of a history of the persecution of Christian missionaries in Japan and Japanese converts to Christianity, written in Spanish by the Portuguese Jesuit Luys Piñeyro (1560-1620). The history is in five books followed by lists of martyrs, a table of chapter titles, etc.
Initially the religious activities of the Jesuits, who arrived in 1549, were tolerated by the Japanese government. Upon seeing the brutal converting methods and the destruction of Japanese temples outside the metropolitan provinces, Shogun Hideyoshi changed his policy towards the Christians in 1587. Churches were demolished, and priests were ordered to leave the country. In 1616 a new edict was issued, ordering not only the expulsion of foreign priests but also demanding the death penalty for Japanese Christians who refused to renounce their beliefs. Many of the deported priests simply defied the Japanese government and returned to Japan, but only few were actually executed.
The present work describes the background to the deteriorating relations between the Japanese rulers and the representatives of Christianity. Piñeyro also deals with the determination of the Jesuits to continue to preach their religion even in the face of persecution.
Early ownerships inscription at foot of title-page. In very good condition, with ample margins and crisp paper. Alt-Japan-Katalog 1151; Cordier, Japonica, cols 290-291; Palau 226932.
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Asia  >  Japan & Far East
Europe  >  Spain & Portugal
History, law & philosophy  >  History
Maritime history
Religion & devotion  >  Church History & Missions | Jesuits