Shusaku Endo’s Silence: Inculturation in the Religious Culture of Japan Presented by James T. Bretzke, S.J. Boston College School of Theology & Ministry bretzke@bc.edu Web-page: https://www2.bc.edu/james-bretzke/default.htm

Prologue & Presumptions Basic knowledge of the Christian persecutions in Japan Basic knowledge & acceptance of hermeneutical theory Many of you have either read the novel, seen the movie, or both Some of the key Japanese linguistic & cultural context is terra incognita

Chinmoku “Silence” (1966) (http://librarylink.regent.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/silence_jp.jpg AND http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/67/82/1430650082-5971619.jpg AND http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4iBErPNdyNk/U8t2KuLokXI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/bv5Ct7Iaoww/s1600/Silence+Movie.jpg (accessed April 4, 2017)

Function of Ideograms (Kanji) In-built ambiguity, complexity, and excess of meaning, calling for reflection & discernment See handout on ideograms related to “silence” & Christianity

Ideograms Related to Silence

“News reached the Church in Rome” (1st line of Silence)

Apotheosis of St. Ignatius; San Ignazio, Rome

Francis Xavier “Missionary” Mt. Fuji: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZPaxYIt8og/WHHgtiq8cII/AAAAAAAADdo/GepbRu5kaeUbE5pUspIDsLkV8saeACxjgCLcB/s640/Japanese%2BMount%2BFuji.jpg (accessed April 5, 2017); Francis Xavier Baptizing: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a1/30/e6/a130e65ec42b2d92ca32648d24eafab7.jpg (April 5, 2017)

26 Japanese Christian Martyrs https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2BmETqJBwfs/maxresdefault.jpg (accessed April 4, 2017)

“Don’t Do It!” Negative Reactions to Silence https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5Th7Tiz1cEk/maxresdefault.jpg (accessed April 4, 2017)

Martyrdom as Fertilizer for Faith http://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/The-Blood-of-the-Martyrs-is-the-Seed-of-the-Church-Tertullian.png (accessed April 4, 2017)

Role of Kichijiro in Silence Foil to Rodrigues His name written only in katagana and not in kanji The “Common Man” ala Bolt’s device in the play “A Man for All Seasons” Koan function Cf. Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering By Makoto Fujimura

“Re-pent-ire: Zen as Meditation

Remove Distractions & Afflictive Emotions (Klesa) Dalai Lama quote: http://izquotes.com/quotes-pictures/quote-afflictive-emotions-our-jealousy-anger-hatred-fear-can-be-put-to-an-end-when-you-realize-dalai-lama-300765.jpg (accessed April 5, 2017)

Enso: Beginning, End, Oneness

Wu-Wei (Non-Action)

Enemy or Opponent as Possible Facilitator or Aid to Enlightenment Lord Inoue as representative of Samurai & failed convert Christianity not suited to grow in the “swamp” of Japan Christianity counter-productive to Japanese well-being

Satori: Goal of Enlightenment Heart (radical) plus ideogram for “I” (combination of “5” and “mouth” “I know only contentment”

Insights from Ignatian Spirituality Founded on the Spiritual Exercises Grounded in the Ignatian Charism of Winning Souls for Christ Adaptability & Contemplation in Action Discernment & Finding God in All Things Claudio Coello San Ignacio https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Claudio_coello-san_ignacio_de_loyola.jpg/220px-Claudio_coello-san_ignacio_de_loyola.jpg (accessed April 4, 2017)

Rodrigues’ Ignatian Pilgrimage

Ignatian Koan: 3rd Degree of Humilty Identification with Xt. The third is most perfect Humility; namely, when in order to imitate and be more actually like Christ our Lord, I want and choose poverty with Christ poor rather than riches, opprobrium with Christ replete with it rather than honors; and to desire to be rated as worthless and a fool for Christ, Who first was held as such, rather than wise or prudent in this world. Spiritual Exercises #167 https://jesuit-collaborative.org/sites/default/files/160309%20Jesus%20Arrested.png (accessed April 4, 2017)

Breaking the Silence: “Trample!” Fumi-e (踏み絵 fumi "stepping-on" + e "picture") https://assets.mubi.com/images/film/14428/image-w856.jpg?1445898992 (accessed April 4, 2017)

The Ultimate Christian Koan: Unmerited Forgiveness of Personal Sin

Listening to the “Deep Silence” The sound of one-hand clapping The chirping of the cicada The cooing of the turtle dove Moaning of the Christians in the pit Kichijiro’s Pleas for Confession Concluding Buddhist chant: Namu Amida Butsu (“turn around and rely upon the infinite awakening”)

Mt 5:44-5:Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous

For Further Reading Robert Schreiter, The New Catholicity: Theology between the Global and the Local (1997) James Bretzke, “Cultural Particularity & the Globalization in the Light of Inculturation,” Pacifica 9 (1996): 69-86 “Moral Theology out of East Asia” Theological Studies 61 (2000); 106-121 “A New Pentecost for Moral Theology: The Challenge of Inculturation of Ethics” Josephinum (Summer/Fall2003): 250-260