おらしょ こころ旅

Registered asset

Center of Nagasaki Prefecture/Western Nagasaki Prefecture

Christian-style gravestones in Tajimo

・There are two plate-like gravestones placed horizontally on the ground, with the year “1653” engraved on them; these represent a style of gravestone unique to Hidden Christians.
・One gravestone is 80 centimeters long and 24 centimeters wide. The other is 71.5 centimeters long, 54 centimeters wide, and 20.5 centimeters thick, with “Myoui Rei, March 27, Shoo 2 (1653)” engraved on the front.
・Situated behind the two gravestones is a natural-stone grave with the posthumous Buddhist name “Myoho Kijaku Myoko Rei” engraved on it, which is believed to identify the same person as the one whose name is engraved on the gravestone above.

・It is considered that due to the severe crackdown on Christianity in the Edo Period, a gravestone for a Christian was buried in the ground, while a Buddhist-style grave for the same Christian was erected behind the gravestone.

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