2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Reserch Study on the syncretism between Kakure-Kirishitan in Ikitsuki Island and Japanese native beliefs.
| Project/Area Number |
09610034
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Religious studies
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| Research Institution | Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science |
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Principal Investigator |
MIYAZAKI Kentaro Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science, 人文学部, 教授 (60157625)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1997 – 2000
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| Keywords | Kakure-Kirishitan / Christianity / folk-belief / acceptance and transformation / inpurity / curse / Taboo / タブー |
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| Research Abstract |
The aim of this research is clear up the essences of the belief of, so to speak Kakure - Kirishitan (Hidden Christian), which exists only at the Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. In conclusion, from my long inquiry of Ikitsuki, Sotome and Goto areas, Kakure - Kirishitan neither hides himself nor is Christian. Modern Kakure - Kirishitan has completely syncretized with theJapanese folk-beliefs underthe long history of the persecutions. Its characteristic is the polytheism, ancestor worship, ritualism and the present gainjust like everyJapanese religion has elementary.
They pray not for the God or Christ but their ancestors. They only respect the traditions that theirancestors have transmitted until now. But in the depth of their belief we can peep at the strong fear for the curse. What they truly believe is the spiritual beings that are thought to be able to control our life.
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