A faith that escaped persecution: the Sakizu Village (Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan)

"A faith that escaped persecution -- a world cultural heritage site -- Sakizu Village" In this small seaside village, walking on the quiet streets in the autumn afternoon with sunshine and sea breeze, there are a few eagles circling in the sky. There are fishing boats scattered in the harbor, and seagulls fly by from time to time! I was stunned! As beautiful as a painting... The sister who gave the tour guide led us to the Saitsu Church. In the late Edo period, Japan had not yet been founded, and Buddhism and Taoism were the mainstream religions in Japan. At that time, missionaries from Spain and other countries had entered Nagasaki and Saitsu to preach, and 80% of the villagers believed in Catholicism. However, the government suppressed foreign religions, and the believers in Saitsu Village turned low-key, and even carved the statue of the Virgin Mary into a statue of Guanyin, holding a baby (Jesus) in her arms. It was not until 1888 that the ban on religion was lifted. Later, a French priest built a Gothic church here. The church has a rare tatami floor, but because photography is prohibited inside, I can't show it to you. I can only say that it has a Japanese and European style. Listening to the explanation, I seemed to understand that in that turbulent era, the people of Sakizu adhered to their beliefs. Although it is a shrine on the surface, inside the shrine believers bowed their heads to pray and read the Bible, seeking the power that can bring them stability! After turning a few corners, there is a church and a seminary. It seems like a small Europe. What is special is that there are still traditional shrines in the village, which interweaves the coexistence of East and West and creates an interesting landscape. As you walk, you will see cats. There are many cute cats here. They are not afraid of people and lie down safely. Perhaps, it is because of this kind of safety that the Sakizu Village has survived all these storms to this day! On the way back, I looked at the church in the distance, filled with gratitude, because I was not born in that unfree and turbulent era. I can believe freely and breathe freely. If I have to thank someone, it should be God!