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[[File:Jesuits-nyc.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City]]
*''Founded: [[1540]]''
*''Founded: [[1540]]''
*''Japanese'': イエズス会 ''(Iezusu kai)''
*''Japanese'': イエズス会 ''(Iezusu kai)''
The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuit order, was one of the chief arms of the Catholic Counter-Reformation in Europe, and one of the earliest and most prominent groups of Christian missionaries to be active in Japan.
The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuit order, was one of the chief arms of the Catholic Counter-Reformation in Europe, and one of the earliest and most prominent groups of Christian missionaries to be active in Japan.
==Arrival and Early Successes==
The first Jesuits to arrive in Japan included [[Francis Xavier]], and arrived in Japan in [[1549]], a mere nine years after the founding of the order. They founded the first Jesuit mission in Japan in that year, in [[Satsuma province]], before moving on to [[Hirado]] in [[1550]], and then to [[Nagato province]] (Chôshû), often proselytizing in the streets.
The first Jesuits to arrive in Japan included [[Francis Xavier]], and arrived in Japan in [[1549]], a mere nine years after the founding of the order. They founded the first Jesuit mission in Japan in that year, in [[Satsuma province]], before moving on to [[Hirado]] in [[1550]], and then to [[Nagato province]] (Chôshû), often proselytizing in the streets.
A ''seminario'', or Jesuit school for Japanese youths, was established at some point, and from the 1580s until [[1614]] a painting workshop operated on the grounds, training Japanese in European painting techniques, and producing artworks for the Christian churches and missions in Japan. In addition, a chapel was built in [[Kyoto]] in [[1561]], and came to be called by the Japanese [[Nanban-ji]] (lit. "Southern Barbarians Temple"). Missionaries continued their efforts even while suffering persecution, and with the protection of [[Oda Nobunaga]], the number of their followers grew. In [[1576]], several hundred followers, with the support of the ''[[Kyoto shoshidai]]'' [[Murai Sadakatsu]], had the old worship hall rebuilt, and on 7/16 held a mass to celebrate the completion of the new chapel. Nanban-ji was then renamed to also be known as St. Mary's Temple (珊太満利亜上人). However, in [[1587]]/6, after completing his [[Invasion of Kyushu]], [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] issued the first of his Christian Expulsion Edicts, and the oppression of Christians saw a big turn. Nanban-ji was destroyed, and never rebuilt.<ref>Plaques on-site at the former site of Nanban-ji, in Kyoto.</ref>
A ''seminario'', or Jesuit school for Japanese youths, was established at some point, and from the 1580s until [[1614]] a painting workshop operated on the grounds, training Japanese in European painting techniques, and producing artworks for the Christian churches and missions in Japan. In addition, a chapel was built in [[Kyoto]] in [[1561]], and came to be called by the Japanese [[Nanban-ji]] (lit. "Southern Barbarians Temple"). Missionaries continued their efforts even while suffering persecution, and with the protection of [[Oda Nobunaga]], the number of their followers grew. In [[1576]], several hundred followers, with the support of the ''[[Kyoto shoshidai]]'' [[Murai Sadakatsu]], had the old worship hall rebuilt, and on 7/16 held a mass to celebrate the completion of the new chapel. Nanban-ji was then renamed to also be known as St. Mary's Temple (珊太満利亜上人). However, in [[1587]]/6, after completing his [[Invasion of Kyushu]], [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] issued the first of his Christian Expulsion Edicts, and the oppression of Christians saw a big turn. Nanban-ji was destroyed, and never rebuilt.<ref>Plaques on-site at the former site of Nanban-ji, in Kyoto.</ref>
==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. These concerns were encouraged further by [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch]] and [[English East India Company|English]] representatives - Protestants whose home countries were embroiled in passionate religious wars with Catholic Spain & Portugal; meanwhile, the [[Franciscan Order]] arrived in Japan in [[1592]], and began proselytizing not to the elites, but to the common people, drawing concern from Hideyoshi, Ieyasu and the like that this might disrupt the social order.
The Jesuits and Franciscans clashed with one another, too, over their very different approaches, with the Franciscans considering the Jesuits pretentious for their associations with the elites, and the Jesuits ridiculing the Franciscans for their lack of education, poverty, and association with the lowest rungs of society.
Though the missionaries were expelled in the 1630s, and Christianity banned, many Japanese converts remained as so-called "[[hidden Christians]]" (''kakure Kirishitan''). At least one Jesuit is known to have snuck into Japan during this period of [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]]: [[Giovanni Battista Sidotti]] entered Japan in [[1708]], was interrogated by Confucian scholar & chief shogunal advisor [[Arai Hakuseki]], and was imprisoned, dying in his cell in [[1714]].
Though the missionaries were expelled in the 1630s, and Christianity banned, many Japanese converts remained as so-called "[[hidden Christians]]" (''kakure Kirishitan''). At least one Jesuit is known to have snuck into Japan during this period of [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]]: [[Giovanni Battista Sidotti]] entered Japan in [[1708]], was interrogated by Confucian scholar & chief shogunal advisor [[Arai Hakuseki]], and was imprisoned, dying in his cell in [[1714]].
