地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

A Dangerous Confession; the End of the Hidden Era

News of the “Discovery of the Hidden Christians” in 1865 quickly reached Kuroshima. Some of the island’s Hidden Christians secretly sailed to Nagasaki to see for themselves what was happening. At Oura Cathedral, they revealed their faith to the missionaries and informed them that a further 600 Hidden Christians were living on Kuroshima. This was a dangerous confession to make, because only two months had passed since the “Discovery of the Hidden Christians,” and the ban on Christianity was still in force.

The missionaries provided them with fresh instruction, and in 1872, one year before the ban on Christianity was lifted, all of Kuroshima’s Hidden Christians returned to the official Catholic faith.

At first, they used two of the houses of community leaders from the Hidden era as temporary churches. Eventually, momentum grew for a new church, and the first Kuroshima Church was constructed in 1879. It was situated in the center of the island, accessible to the inhabitants of all the local villages. With the Christian population expanding, a plan to rebuild the church was launched. Thanks to the money the Christian islanders donated and the free labor they provided, the Kuroshima Church you see today was completed in 1902. Even today, memories of the time when Christianity was banned live on, with the prayer to atone for trampling on religious images being recited every week.

The Whole Island Is a World Cultural Heritage Property

There are six villages around Kuroshima that originated with the Hidden Christian settlers who migrated here in the nineteenth century. The sites of the community leaders’ houses, graveyards, and the agricultural landscape remain largely unchanged. In addition, Kozenji Temple, (where the Hidden Christians secretly prayed to Maria Kannon), the site of the village headman’s house (where efumi took place), and the site of the first church to be built after the lifting of the ban have all been well preserved.

All these sites provide a rich, textured picture of the Hidden Christians’ strategy of maintaining their own religion and its structures by migrating and working to harmoniously coexist with the established social mores and religion. The whole island of Kuroshima, with its eight villages showing the relationship between the Hidden Christians and Buddhists under the ban on Christianity, is one component of the World Cultural Heritage Property of Hidden Christian sites in the Nagasaki Region.

冒死自白與潛伏告終

1865年，「信徒發現」一事很快便傳到了黑島。島上部分信徒慾親自了解事實，便暗自前往長崎。他們在大浦天主堂向傳教士自白信仰，並告知黑島亦存在多達600名潛伏吉利支丹。「信徒發現」僅兩個月後的該事件，發生於禁教令尚未解除之時，在當時說是冒死之舉亦不為過。

傳教士就此開始指導黑島信徒。1872年，即基督教解禁的前一年，黑島的所有潛伏吉利支丹皆回歸天主教。

回歸之初，島上有兩處地點被作為臨時教堂，潛伏時代的指導者宅邸即是其一。隨著時間流轉，建造新教堂的時機日漸成熟，1879年，初代黑島教堂落成。教堂地點位於島中央，便於各聚落的所有村民前往。隨著信徒人數的增加，重建教堂的計畫也隨之問世。透過信徒的勞動及負擔費用，如今的黑島天主堂得以於1902年竣工。黑島天主堂現在仍會每週舉行祈禱會，以求贖清當時進行「踏繪」的罪過，禁教期的記憶因而保留至今。

整座黑島皆是世界文化遺產

黑島上分佈著六個源於19世紀移居至此的潛伏吉利支丹聚落。指導者的宅邸遺址、墓地、農地等幾乎與當時無異。此外，供潛伏吉利支丹暗自供奉瑪利亞觀音的興禪寺、曾進行踏繪儀式的村長宅邸遺址，以及基督教解禁後落成的初代教堂遺址，目前也仍然維持完好狀態。

信徒的移居地點，將當時潛伏吉利支丹的心思表露無遺：與移居地的社會及宗教共存，同時維持自我的信仰及組織。此八個聚落反映出二者關係，而包括八個聚落在內的黑島全島更是「長崎和天草地區的潛伏吉利支丹相關遺產」的構成遺產之一。

冒死自白与潜伏告终

1865年，“信徒发现”一事很快便传至黑岛。岛上部分信徒为确认此事，便秘密前往长崎。他们在大浦天主堂向传教士自白信仰，并告知黑岛亦有多达600名潜伏吉利支丹。这是“信徒发现”仅两个月后的事件，当时禁教令尚未解除，此次自白可谓是冒死之举。

传教士就此开始对黑岛信徒进行指导。1872年，即基督教解禁的前一年，黑岛的所有潜伏吉利支丹皆回归天主教。

回归之初，岛上有两处地点被作为临时教堂，潜伏时代的指导者宅邸即是其一。随着建造新教堂的时机日益成熟，1879年，首座黑岛教堂落成。其地点设于岛中央，便于各村落的所有村民前往。日后信徒增加，重建教堂的计划也随之问世。1902年，一座由信徒义务及自费建成的黑岛天主堂竣工。此堂如今仍会每周举行祈祷会，以求赎清当年进行“踏绘”的罪过，禁教期​​的记忆因而延续至今。

整座黑岛皆是世界文化遗产

黑岛上分布着六个源于19世纪移居至此的潜伏吉利支丹村落。指导者的宅邸遗址、墓地、农地等几乎与当年无异。此外，供潜伏吉利支丹秘密供奉玛利亚观音的兴禅寺、曾进行踏绘仪式的村长宅邸遗址，以及基督教解禁后落成的首座教堂遗址，目前也仍保持完好状态。

信徒的移居点，将当时潜伏吉利支丹的心思表露无遗：与移居地的社会及宗教共存，同时维持自我的信仰及组织。此八个村落反映出二者关系，而包括八个村落在内的黑岛全岛更是“长崎和天草地区的潜伏吉利支丹相关遗产”的构成遗产之一。