Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier was a Spanish Jesuit priest who traveled around Asia and helped found the Jesuit mission in Japan.
History
Xavier left Portugal for Asia in 1541. In December of 1547, while he was living in Malacca, he became acquainted with Anjirō, a Japanese living abroad who converted to Christianity.
He then journeyed to Japan in 1549, along with two other Jesuits, Cosme de Torres and Juan Fernández, arriving in Kagoshima, where he received permission from Shimazu Takahisa to proselytize. After forming a friendship with Ninshitsu, head of the Shimazu clan temple of Fukushô-ji, he helped found the first Catholic mission in Japan, and converted roughly one hundred local people. Roughly a year after arriving in Kagoshima, he relocated to Hirado in the spring of 1550. He then moved on to Chôshû, where he assisted his fellow Jesuits preaching in the streets.
During his missionary work, Francis Xavier sent back many letters and other documents which have proved an important look at European views of Japan and Asia at that time.
References
- Medina, Jean Ruiz de, trans. John Bridges, The Catholic Church in Korea: Its origins 1566-1784 Istituto Storico S.I. - Roma 1991.
- "Kirisuto-kyô," Kaiyô kokka Satsuma, Shôkoshûseikan official website.
