Is Adaption Necessary?

Since more than 30 years when Jesuits originally enter into Japan, there are two big changes of the attitude about Japanese ways of life. The first change happens when Jesuits first encounter with Japanese culture. Just coming to Japan, Xavier slashes Japanese customs, such as dressing in the silk kimono, which doesn't accord with Christian culture, but he changes his mind quickly, he does his best to win Japanese goodwill, and eventually gains the success of Japanese mission enterprise. Torres and his subjects not only follow Xavier's practice, but also continue the adaptation principle in the more wide areas, for example, sitting in the chair and reception of guests in the church etc. Cabral denies the adaptation principle by changing the dress and lowing Japanese ways of life, which leads to conflict and disunion in the mission. The second change happens After coming to Japan, the new Visitor Valignano understands personally and deeply the special Japanese ways of life, he criticizes Cabral's policy, and organizes some mission consultations to emphasis the adaptation to Japanese ways of life. At the same time, he composes a document named Advertimentos in the spirit of adaptation. Jesuits' practice has something to do with the pain which is from their political and cultural circumstances, the spirit resource which early Christianity comes down and the purpose of the Society of Jesus. The adaptation of Japanese ways of life is a principle to live and gain Jesuits' aim, it is also a kind of bear and comprise with other culture against their will. It has three obvious particulars: it's not general; it's not creative; it's not equal.