The Jesuit Hospital in the Religious Context of Sixteenth-Century Japan
In 1555, just six years after arriving in Japan, missionaries from the Society of Jesus founded a small medical clinic in the city of Funai (modern-day Oita). This was the first European hospital in all of East Asia, and historians have often regarded it as the beginning of a scientific revolution,...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Nanzan Institute
2019
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| In: |
Japanese journal of religious studies
Year: 2019, Volume: 46, Issue: 1, Pages: 79-102 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Japan
/ Jesuits
/ Hospital
/ Medicine
/ Therapy
/ Geschichte 1555
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| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy CH Christianity and Society KBM Asia RJ Mission; missiology |
| Further subjects: | B
Patient Care
B Society of Jesus B Buddhism B Hospital buildings B Religious Studies B Priests B Sons B Modern Medicine B Temples |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | In 1555, just six years after arriving in Japan, missionaries from the Society of Jesus founded a small medical clinic in the city of Funai (modern-day Oita). This was the first European hospital in all of East Asia, and historians have often regarded it as the beginning of a scientific revolution, a revolution which would eventually see the official adoption of Western medicine in Japan along with the marginalization of Eastern techniques. This article seeks an alternative perspective. It argues that there is some misunderstanding as to the nature of the Jesuit hospital. The historical sources in fact indicate that it was largely designed by, directed by, and staffed by the local Japanese Christians. Because of this, it functioned much like a Buddhist temple sanatorium. It had buildings of a similar architectural style, and its patients were treated in a similar way, receiving both Chinese medicine and Western surgery. The primary goal of the Jesuit hospital was not to introduce exotic medical techniques, but rather to offer appropriate social and spiritual support to the community. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Japanese journal of religious studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.18874/jjrs.46.1.2019.79-101 |