I promised an article on Shiro Masuda and the Shimabara Rebellion, but Im going to give you an article on his life first so you can get the picture of what kind of person he was. Im going to post another article that gives alot of details about the rebellion. Note that I did not put the surname before the given name as the Japanese do.
The Life of
Shiro Masuda
In 1618, on the Amakusa island of Oyano, (Jerome) Shiro Masuda was born to the family of a poor Catholic Ronin, ( masterless samurai), named Jinbei Masuda and his wife Maria. Shiro was the youngest of four brothers. But the elder three died prematurely. He also had an elder sister named Fuku and a younger sister named Man. Due to the pursecution that started in 1614, the Masuda family and their friends had to secretly attend mass in either their homes and barns, or in the house of some Catholic lesser lords who were secret Christians. Shiro was probably confirmed by a priest that had the faculties to confirm, since there was no Bishop available.
At the age of eight, Shiro began the practice of Kendo. (Japanese swordsmanship) Under his father, and later under the Masters of the Kato clan, he became one of the best swordsmen of his day.
Shiro would not only grow up to be a handsome, charming, chivalrous young man of the sword, but of the Catechism as well. At the age of ten, while educated by the Jesuites in Nagasaki, he was trained to be a Catechist and was taght philosophy and theology so he could challenge the Buhddists who were making a comeback in Japan. He did this while he was working as an accountant for a Chinese Merchant to earn some money for his family.( Ronin were not always well to do and had to make a living any way they could.) In his spare time he would help the Jesuites translate and print books in Japanese, or teach Catechism to the other children he met, or practiced his Kendo. Sloth was definitly not one of Shiro's vices! (Come to think of it, he probably didnt have time for any vice!)
As he grew older he began to preach to the crowds in Nagasaki, despite the strict laws against Catholicism. Like St.Don Bosco, he also used magic tricks to get the atention of the crowds. His missionary work was so effective and made so many converts that a few Buhddists and local goverment officials made several attempts on his life. On one occasion he converted his attacker's after they were apprehended by an invisible force. (It was probably his Guardian Angel.)
November 8, 1638
After a large number of Priests were expulsed or martyred, Shiro gave himself the title of "Tokisada" or "Child of God" and led 37,000 peasants and footsoldiers and 5000 Catholic Samurai, (mostly Ronin) in a rebellion that ended in defeat at Hara Castle. He and all the Catholics that joined him in rebellion, men,women and children, were killed in battle, were beheaded and had their heads displayed at Nagasaki for a month. As you probably guessed, the death of these martyrs only made more converts to the faith, and though the rebellion ended in a glorious military defeat, it also ended in an even greater spiritual victory... they made it to Heaven.
Today statues of Shiro praying his Rosary,or venerating the crucifix, can be found around Nagasaki, Amakusa and Shimabara. The Catholic population of Kyushu honors him for fighting for the freedom of Catholicism, Modernists because they believe he fought for "liberty and equality", and Modern Japanese Swordsmen because he was an honorable warrior. The Buhddists however, continue their persecution of his memory in legend and media by depicting him as an evil crossdressing sorceror who used "Christian Black Magic" to sway the masses to help him in his attempt to turn Japan into an empire of darkness. The followers of Satan will always persecute those who fight for the Social Kingship of Christ, such as Shiro Masuda of Amakusa.
Um... what would "Long Live His Divine Majesty The Emperor!" be in Japanese? I may be a manga nut but I dont know much Japanese. 8(
Topic: Shiro Masuda & The Shimabara Rebellion (Read 2490 times)