Life
lived in the righteousness of God
Ukon Takayama is famous for Christian feudal lord. However, few people
know how Ukon spent his life. His Christian name is Just (It means a righteous
man.), and he spent his life as a man of justice as the name expresses
its character. The following verse is in the Bible.
@@@"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all
@@@these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
Through the strength of God, Ukon was able to put this verse into practice
and remain a Christian to the end of his life despite the topsy-turvy world
of Warring States period. His faith was a living testimony of God's righteousness
to thpeople around him.
@
1) The Birth of Just Takayama
Ukon Takayama, famous as a Christian feudal lord of the Warring States
period, was born in Takayama, Settsu, Osaka in 1552. His childhood name
was Hikogoro, and later he was called by other names such as Tomonaga and
Nagafusa, but in general he was known as Ukon. There is virtually no information
relating to his childhood. The earliest record we have of him is
when he was twelve years old. Interestingly, there is no mention
of Jesus between His birth and the age of twelve in the Bible, either..
He was not born into a Christian family. His father, Takayama Hidanokami
(military commissioner) was a devout Buddist, and moved to Haibara-cho
in Nara Prefecture as the lord of Yamatozawa Castle in 1558, when Ukon
was six years old. In 1564 when representatives of the Christianity and
Buddhism met for a debate, Ukonfs father attended as a Buddhist. However,
he found in the Christianity what he sought. He then was baptized along
with many other Buddhists and became a Christian. He was given the Christian
name Dario and for the rest of his life, he preached the joy and the truth
to many people. Luis Frois wrote about Dario as follows:
@@"In his enthusiasm, faith, and modesy,.he is like a steadfast
Christian in Europe." ("Historia de Iapam 2", chapter 39)
After Dario came back to Sawa Castle, he told his family about Christianity
and his son Ukon was baptized along with about 150 vassals. This
event took place when Ukon was twelve years old. Up untill that point,
he had not been an arduous seeker after God, but this baptism was to become
a wonderful turning point for him.
Ukon Memorial in Sawa, Haibara-cho, Nara Prefecture.
The plaque says hThe memory of a righteous person will never disappear.
The righteous person will flourish like the palm tree.h
