The Samurai and the Cross: The Jesuit Enterprise in Early Modern Japan

Explore the complex encounter between Christianity and samurai-era Japan in The Samurai and the Cross: The Jesuit Enterprise in Early Modern Japan, a detailed historical study by M. Antoni J. Ucerler, S.J.

This digital edition is delivered as a PDF download, so you can begin reading instantly after purchase. It offers a thorough examination of Jesuit missionary work in early modern Japan and the intellectual debates that shaped it.

Book Overview

Published by Oxford University Press in 2022, this volume investigates how Jesuit missionaries introduced and adapted Christian theology, ethics, and political ideas in Japan. The author, a scholar with deep expertise in the field, uses original sources and case studies to reconstruct the challenges and strategies of the mission.

The book is organized into three main parts: Re-inventing Christianity, Re-imagining the Enterprise, and Re-interpreting ‘Reason of State’. It covers topics such as Aristotle and Aquinas in Japan, Japanese cases of conscience, Jesuit casuistry, just war theory, and Japanese reactions to Christian ideas.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• How Aristotelian and Thomistic thought were introduced to Japanese audiences.
• The development of Jesuit casuistry and cases of conscience in Japan.
• Debates over accommodation, political power, and the use of force.
• The role of obedience within the Jesuit order and its missions.
• Japanese responses to Christian moral and political reasoning.
• The end of the missionary enterprise and its legacy.

Why This Book Matters

This work offers a deep look at one of the most significant cross-cultural religious encounters in world history. It sheds light on how Christian institutions grappled with cultural difference, political pressure, and ethical ambiguity.

For scholars of Japanese history, religious studies, and early modern global Christianity, this book provides a rigorous and well-documented account. It also makes accessible a range of primary sources and debates that are often difficult to find.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download. You will not receive a physical shipment. Access is available immediately after purchase.

The PDF works with compatible reading software on desktop computers, tablets, mobile devices, and Kindle apps that support PDF files. Open it on your preferred reading app and begin exploring this history right away.

FAQ

How soon will I receive the book?
Your PDF is available for download immediately after purchase.

Will a physical copy be shipped?
No, this product is a digital download only.

Is the PDF compatible with my e-reader?
The PDF can be read on any device that supports PDF files, including many popular e-reader apps.

With instant access and a comprehensive scholarly presentation, this PDF offers a reliable way to study the Jesuit enterprise in early modern Japan.