The Bell of Nanbanji

The Bell of Nanbanji, or Nanbanji-no-kane, was made in Portugal in 1577. This was originally used at Nanban-ji Church.

Nanbanji Church was the first Christian church in Kyoto and supported by Nobunaga Oda, who was one of the most powerful warlord and almost completed the unification of Japan in the end of the 16th century. Jesuit Father Gnecchi-Soldo Organtino established Nabnanji with the support from Nobunaga Oda in 1576. For next 11 years, Nanbanji was the center of Christian followers in Japan.

However, Christianity was viewed as a serious threat to Japan by Regant Hideyoshi Toyotomi and his government. The law agaist Christians was enforced by Hideyoshi's government in 1587. At the same time, Nanbanji was destroyed.

After Nanbanji was destroyed, the bell was vanished from any records of Japanese history. And, about 200 years ago, the bell came to Shunkoin. At the time, Christianity was still banned in Japan. Thus, we kept the bell as a Korean style bell.

Since the bell was made for a Christian church, it has Jesuit crests on three sides of the bell. And, you can see Arabic numbers, 1577, on the other side of the bell.

This bell is the symbol of the dark history of Christianity between the 16th century and 19th century in Japan.  I think that this bell should be recognized by the Vatican.