East vs. West: Cultural Clash

Silence (Library Edition)

The conflict between Japanese culture and Western Christianity.

increasingupBearing stren­gth in each eventdowndecreasing
Language and ConceptsLanguage and Concepts from "Silence (Library Edition)". Language and Concepts The Dainichi Confusion Xavier's interpreter confused Deus with Dainichi, the Great Sun.
Language and Concepts The Dainichi Confusion Xavier's interpreter confused Deus with Dainichi, the Great Sun. The Japanese naturally assimilated the foreign God into their own worldview. Ferreira's Insight Ferreira argued that the Japanese had never understood the Christian God. They created a distorted version. Significance
The Interpreter's ArgumentThe Interpreter's Argument from "Silence (Library Edition)". The Interpreter's Argument The Buddhist View The interpreter, a former seminarian, debated with Rodrigues. He argued that Buddhism had equally valid concepts.
The Interpreter's Argument The Buddhist View The interpreter, a former seminarian, debated with Rodrigues. He argued that Buddhism had equally valid concepts. He accused the priests of forcing a foreign religion. Rodrigues' Defense Rodrigues insisted on the universality of truth. But the cultural gap was vast. Significance
From Xavier onwards
During Rodrigues' interrogation, 1638