Episode 586 – The All-Seeing Eye, Part 3

July 11, 2025 1 Comment

This week, we explore the “Christian conspiracies” of Edo Period Japan. Working backwards from the Osaka Incident of 1827, when a group of supposed Christian spirit mediums were uncovered as a part of a fraud investigation, we’ll look at how Christianity was transformed from an actual religion into an evil spiritual threat to the foundations of Japan itself.

Sources

Leuchtenberger, Jan. Conquering Demons: The “Kirishitan”, Japan, and the World in Early Modern Japan

Miyazaki, Fumiko, Kate Wildman Nakai and Mark Teeuwen. Christian Sorcerers on Trial: Records of the 1827 Osaka Incident

Images

An illustration of the Tensho ambassadors from a report on the embassy. Chijiwa Seizaemon/Miguel is on the bottom right.
Image from Kirishitan Monogatari depicting the padres teaching their disciples.
A copy of Kirishitan Shuumon Raichou Jikki, one of about 150 different manuscript copies we have surviving today.
A notice board with an anti-Christian edict, preserved in a museum.
Another detail from Kirishitan Monogatari, showing “Padre Urugan” with Oda Nobunaga.

 

1 thought on “Episode 586 – The All-Seeing Eye, Part 3”

  1. Love the series and I’ve been listening for some years. Enjoy your trip to London – but be aware that street cell phone theft and muggings are at an all time high in the UK capital. Don’t wear any expensive watches or jewellery and try to avoid using your phone on the streets. Between 2018 and 2024, there were 560,000 phone thefts on the London streets. Other than that, I hope you have a great trip.

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