おらしょ こころ旅

Registered asset

Center of Nagasaki Prefecture/Western Nagasaki Prefecture

Christian gravestone in Imatomi Town, Omura City

・A semi-cylindrical gravestone, which was normally placed horizontally on the ground, was set upright on the ground with the bottom facing the front.
・There is a “干”-shaped crucifix design (Calvario crucifix design) engraved on the upper surface (normally the front side) of the gravestone.
・There are the date “Tensho 4 Hinoene November 11,” the posthumous Buddhist name “Fuzenin Suishin Nichiei Rei,” and the secular name “Ichinose Jibu-no-Taifu” engraved on the front side of the gravestone (in the present position). A recent study found that the year “Keicho 19” is engraved on the upper part of the gravestone, giving rise to questions as to when the gravestone was set and who the deceased person was.
・It is considered that with crackdown on Christians strengthening after the issuance of the ban on Christianity, people tried to protect the grave by setting the Christianity-style gravestone upright on the ground like a Buddhist gravestone, and engraving a posthumous Buddhist name on the front to disguise it as a gravestone for a person of the Buddhist faith.

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