Antonio de Paiva was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary who was active in Japan in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. He was one of the first Jesuits to enter Japan, along with Francis Xavier, Cosme de Torres, and Juan Fernández. He arrived in Japan in 1549 and spent most of his time in the island of Kyushu, where he preached, baptized, and established churches. He also learned Japanese and translated Christian texts into the local language. He was known for his zeal, courage, and eloquence, as well as his ability to adapt to the Japanese culture and customs.
He was involved in several important events in the history of Christianity in Japan, such as the conversion of the daimyo (feudal lord) Omura Sumitada, who granted the Jesuits permission to build a seminary and a church in Nagasaki in 1569; the establishment of the first Jesuit college in Japan, St. Paul’s College, in 1579; and the participation in the Tensho embassy, a diplomatic mission that sent four young Japanese Christian nobles to Europe in 1582. He also witnessed the persecution and martyrdom of many Christians under the shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who issued an edict banning Christianity in 1587. He himself was arrested and tortured several times, but managed to escape and continue his missionary work. He died in Macau in 1611, after being expelled from Japan along with other foreign priests.
Antonio de Paiva was one of the pioneers of the Jesuit mission in Japan, and contributed to the spread of Catholicism among the Japanese people. He left behind a legacy of faith, culture, and dialogue that still inspires many today.
However, he did not stay in Japan for his entire missionary career. He also visited other parts of Asia, including Indonesia, where he made some observations about the culture, religion, and politics of the region. According to one source, he wrote a letter to his superior in Goa, India, in 1552, describing his experiences in Indonesia. He reported that he had traveled to Malacca, Sumatra, Java, and the Moluccas, where he encountered various peoples and faiths. He noted that the Portuguese had established trade and diplomatic relations with some of the local rulers, such as the Sultan of Aceh and the King of Banten. He also mentioned that there were some Christians among the natives, who had been converted by previous missionaries or Portuguese merchants.
He expressed his admiration for the natural beauty and richness of Indonesia, but also his concern for the spiritual welfare of its inhabitants. He lamented that many of them were idolaters, who worshiped various gods and spirits. He also criticized the practices of Islam, which he considered a false religion that corrupted the true faith of Abraham. He urged his superior to send more missionaries to Indonesia, especially to Java, where he believed there was a great potential for conversion. He claimed that the Javanese were very curious and receptive to the Christian message, and that they had a high regard for the Portuguese and their culture.
In 1544, he wrote a scandalising letter to his Catholic bishop about his observations of the Bugis people:
“Your Lordship will know that the priests of these kings are generally called bissus. They grow no hair on their beards, dress in a womanly fashion, and grow their hair long and braided; they imitate [women’s] speech because they adopt all of the female gestures and inclinations. They marry and are received, according to the custom of the land, with other common men, and they live indoors, uniting carnally in their secret places with the men whom they have for husbands...”
He concluded the letter with his amazement that the Christian god, who had destroyed "three cities of Sodom for the same sin," had not yet smited such "wanton people" who were "encircled by evil."
De Paiva also shared some of his personal experiences in Indonesia, such as his encounters with wild animals, pirates, and cannibals. He recounted how he had been attacked by a tiger in Sumatra, but managed to escape with the help of a local chief. He also narrated how he had been captured by a group of pirates near Java, who threatened to kill him and eat him. However, he was able to convince them to spare his life by telling them about Jesus Christ and showing them some religious objects. He said that they were amazed by his words and deeds, and that some of them even asked to be baptised.
Antonio de Paiva's observations in Indonesia reveal his interest and curiosity about the diverse cultures and religions of Asia, as well as his zeal and courage as a missionary. His letter also provides valuable information about the early contacts between the Portuguese and the Indonesians in the sixteenth century.
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References[]
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/kzmpyy/some-asian-governments-claim-lgbtq-culture-is-a-western-invention-heres-why-thats-garbage
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/church-history/article/abs/first-catholic-diocese-in-asia-and-the-spread-of-catholicism-juan-de-albuquerque-bishop-of-goa-15381553/7E10F399CB6EE819C2BD7AF7C1AE71BB
Acknowledgements[]
This article was written by Roy Tan.