In 1588, one year after reigning over Setouchi, Yukinaga moved to Udo (now
southern part of Kumamoto).
This was the moment that he became a feudal lord of 240,000 Koku (unit
of volume) from 10,000 Koku.
Who could imagine that
he was promoted like this though he was from a merchant. I think that there
were a lot of training and prayer to God behind the scenes.
It was like Joseph in the Book of Genesis who became the minister of Egypt
from a slave. Moreover, at this time, many Christians followed Yukinaga
to Udo from Shodo Island.
However, this territory was the unstable place where the riot occurred
at the time of the former feudal lord. I think Yukinaga prayed for this
to God, too.
And again he
received a good idea from God. It was to reconcile with the powerful clans who
had governed islands through a church, since they were Christians. Yukinaga
permitted the powerful clans to possess Amakusa, and formed friendly relations
with them.
Moreover, since
people who had escaped from Christian persecution by Hideyoshi gathered to
Christian feudal lords like Yukinaga, five priest halls, 14 churches, and also
a theological college were moved to Udo and Amakusa islands.
Furthermore, the printing machines were also introduced from Europe, and
various books were printed and published. A university was established,
and religious paintings, organs, prints, and clocks were produced and creative
activity was performed. And this area also became the base of Western culture.
(The Kyoto Glory Church Translation Committee is responsible for the wording
of this article.)