The Conflict Between Christian Culture And Japanese Nationalism In Meiji Years

In the summer of 1893, an English book named The Japanese Bride was published in New York of the USA whose author was a Japanese Christian minister Tamura Naomi. With the critical attitude, this book introduced the traditional concept of marriage and family in Japan to Americans and it considered that traditional family of Japan should be reformed with the western Christian concept of marriage and family. After published, this book was intensively criticized and attacked by Japanese. Japan Christendom did not support Tamura Naomi and even criticized this book with the public. Church of Christ in Japanto which Tamura Naomi belonged conducted religious trial and revoked his ordination. A series of incidents which were caused by The Japanese Bridewere called “The Japanese Bride Incidents”.“The Japanese Bride Incidents” reflected the conflict between Japanese nationalism and Christianity during Meiji period of Japan. Christianity was radically against the Japanese polytheism. Prohibition of religion which was ordered by Toyotomi’s Government and Tokugawa Shogunate made the Japanese people tend to be hostile to Christianity for a long time which became the psychological basis to cause The Japanese Bride Incidents. In the early period of Meiji, Christianity in Japan had a favorable development momentum by virtue of civilization and enlightenment policy of Meiji Government and the westernization of Japanese society. In the middle period of Meiji, along with the issue of Imperial Constitution of Japanand Imperial Rescript on Education, Japanese nationalism which was opposed to Christianity developed rapidly and became the mainstream ideology of Japan. Once again, tendency to against Christianity appeared. “The Japanese Bride Incidents” happened under a background which was consisted ofconflict and opposition between Christianity and Japanese nationalism in the middle period of Meiji. “The Japanese Bride Incidents” indicated that Japanese Christianity finally compromised and conceded for the sake of its own development when confronting such conflict and opposition.