Footprints of Jurian Nakaura@No.7
Valignano, who had to say farewell to the team in India, drew up a written statement of
the purpose of this embassy and a cautionary statement and handed them
over to his
successor, Mezquita who would lead Jurian and other members of this embassy
from then.
Within the statement, there are warnings like this:
Not fix them up with rooms on high places nor porches,
@ lest tiny boys have an accident when they step down.
Even 56 warnings were listed because Valignano loved Jurian and other boys
like his own
sons and because he promised their parents with his responsibility that
he would certainly
take them back to Japan.
Thus, Jurian and other boys had placed their historical first steps on
Lisbon as the first
Japanese who sailed to Europe. It was 420 years ago from now, and Jurian
already became 17.
This was also the first time for European in those days to see Japanese who came from the
edge of the world.
"What surprised me first when we entered the port was that there were
innumerable ships in
the port. I can say there were thousands of ships. We tried to count only
the big ones among
them; There were more than 300 ships. I really don't know how I can describe the spectacles
of the vast city. My eyes was caught by such as huge houses, tall buildings,
walls of the
castles, outstanding towers, I just can't tell what I should see first."
Jurian's friend, Migeru Chijiwa left such an impression. Lisbon which is
the capital of
Portugal, as well as the city of the gate to Europe, the center of the
mission to the
whole world, and of trading and sailing. For Jurian and other boys, everything
they saw
amazed and impressed them.
This first step became the event which introduced Japan with sensation
to Europe.
During the 10 years from 1585, it is said more than 90 kinds of books corelated to them
were published. When we think what Jurian and other boys had seen and heard from then
on, it might have become a strong astonishing influence on Japan, just
as Iwakura embassy
had led "Cultural Enlightenment". It is not surprising that Cutural Enlightenment had
already occured in 1600 by any chance. It might lead spritual revival where
much more
people came to believe Jesus Christ in Japan. However the fact was totally
different.
It was so pity.
Anyway from then on, despite the worry of
Valignano Jurian and the other boys entered
the wave of "big welcome" of the people, starting with Portugal,
and also in Spain and Itary.
Two years had already passed since Nobunaga Oda who had protected Christianity
died
at the Incident at Honnoji.
(The Kyoto Glory Church Translation Committee is
responsible for the wording of this article.)
(Lisbon)