Changes

[[File:Jesuits-nyc.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City]]

[[File:IHS-raden.JPG|right|thumb|320px|A lacquered reading stand inlaid in mother-of-pearl with the IHS logo of the Society. [[Tokyo National Museum]], 16-17th c.]]

*''Founded: [[1540]]''

*''Founded: [[1540]]''

*''Japanese'': イエズス会 ''(Iezusu kai)''

*''Japanese'': イエズス会 ''(Iezusu kai)''

==Shifts, Decline, and Expulsion==

==Shifts, Decline, and Expulsion==

Despite early successes, or perhaps because of them, from the 1580s on, the Jesuits began to face increasing suspicion and difficulties. Prominent figures such as Hideyoshi, and, later, [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], aware of Spain's colonization of the Philippines, and of the incredible numbers of Christian converts within Japan, and having only very recently united the warring provinces of Japan into a semblance of peace and order, became concerned that the missionaries' activities could lead to a return to serious instability, or even conquest and colonization.

Despite early successes, or perhaps because of them, from the 1580s on, the Jesuits began to face increasing suspicion and difficulties. Prominent figures such as Hideyoshi, and, later, [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], aware of Spain's colonization of the Philippines, and of the incredible numbers of Christian converts within Japan, and having only very recently united the warring provinces of Japan into a semblance of peace and order, became concerned that the missionaries' activities could lead to a return to serious instability, or even conquest and colonization.