1. Shusaku Endo’s Silence: Inculturation in the Religious Culture of Japan
Presented by
James T. Bretzke, S.J.
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
Web-page:

2. 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

3. Chinmoku “Silence” (1966)
( AND AND (accessed April 4, 2017)

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

5. Ideograms Related to Silence

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

7. Apotheosis of St. Ignatius; San Ignazio, Rome

8. Francis Xavier “Missionary”
Mt. Fuji: (accessed April 5, 2017); Francis Xavier Baptizing: (April 5, 2017)

9. 26 Japanese Christian Martyrs
(accessed April 4, 2017)

10. “Don’t Do It!” Negative Reactions to Silence
(accessed April 4, 2017)

11. Martyrdom as Fertilizer for Faith
(accessed April 4, 2017)

12. 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

13. “Re-pent-ire: Zen as Meditation

14. Remove Distractions & Afflictive Emotions (Klesa)
Dalai Lama quote: (accessed April 5, 2017)

15. Enso: Beginning, End, Oneness

16. Wu-Wei (Non-Action)

18. 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

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

20. 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 (accessed April 4, 2017)

21. Rodrigues’ Ignatian Pilgrimage

22. 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
(accessed April 4, 2017)

23. Breaking the Silence: “Trample!”
Fumi-e (踏み絵 fumi "stepping-on" + e "picture")
(accessed April 4, 2017)

24. The Ultimate Christian Koan: Unmerited Forgiveness of Personal Sin

25. 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”)

26. 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

27. 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);
“A New Pentecost for Moral Theology: The Challenge of Inculturation of Ethics” Josephinum (Summer/Fall2003):