Gaspar Coelho
Gaspar Coelho (c. 1529 – 1590) was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and one of the Catholics' heads for their mission to Japan, having substituted Francisco Cabral.[1] Unlike other priests, such as Luís Fróis and Gaspar Vilela, Coelho was against adopting Japanese customs in order to better reach the locals and convert them to Christianity.[2]
History[edit | edit source]
In 1586,[1] Coelho met Toyotomi Hideyoshi while he marched towards the island of Kyushu. The daimyō discussed with him plans for an invasion of Korea and asked for some Portuguese ships in exchange for promising to build many churches once the land was conquered. Coelho agreed to the proposal and also told Hideyoshi that he would ensure that Kyushu's Christian warlords would also support him, inadvertently leading Hideyoshi to conclude that the Jesuits had too much influence in Japan.[2]
Upon Hideyoshi's return from his campaign, they met again and Coelho reiterated his support for the Korean campaign. Later, at night, Hideyoshi had Coelho interrogated about about the Jesuits' purpose in Japan and the reasons for their destruction of Buddhist temples. Coelho, shocked by the change in treatment, answered that the Jesuits had come to propagate their faith and blamed the attacks on recent overzealous converts. Unsatisfied with his answers, Hideyoshi decreed that the Jesuits were banned from the country and must leave within 20 days on pain of death,[2] though he refrained from enforcing it lest he break profitable trading with the Portuguese and so Christianity returned to his court.[1]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Echoes of History – Shadows (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
Gaspar Coelho on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Echoes of History – Shadows – Episode 3: Portuguese Missionaries in Japan