In Shitsu Village, there are four Hidden Christian graveyards: Kodabira Graveyard, Shobuda Graveyard, Nonaka Graveyard, and Hatakui Graveyard. According to a map of 1862, one graveyard was created for each community in the village.
Many graves were made by piling up crystalline schist, which was gathered locally, with no stone pagoda. Oral tradition has it that the burial method for Hidden Christians at that time was to “lay down the body with the head pointing south and the knees bent in the coffin.” Archaeological excavation at Nonaka graveyard has confirmed that this unique burial method was actually practiced.
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