What if Christian missionaries from Iberia managed to convert Japan to Christianity in the 1500s? Additionally what if this Japan managed to conquer Korea in the Imjin War (or an alternate version of it) or a later war when the Ming was collapsing
WI: Christian Japan
- Thread starter Tsar Constantine I
- Start date
The (relative) success of Catholic missionaries in Japan during the late 15th century was a temporary and localized phenomenon. Minor lords in Southern Kyushu during the Sengoku Jidai had much to gain from converting because it attracted Portuguese trade, which brought firearms and Chinese goods (which the Japanese at the time were banned from procuring directly.) Once Japan had a domestic firearms production and the Red Seal Ships system was in place, no more lords would convert, which means that Christianity was always bound to at least stagnate in Japan.
Without persecution it could have survived as a local religion in parts of southern Kyushu, as well as a couple of small congregations in major cities like Kyoto and Osaka. Full conversion of Japan is impossible imo. Buddhism and Shinto was organized and ingrained in the country's political and social structures, they would not be easy to displace.
Without persecution it could have survived as a local religion in parts of southern Kyushu, as well as a couple of small congregations in major cities like Kyoto and Osaka. Full conversion of Japan is impossible imo. Buddhism and Shinto was organized and ingrained in the country's political and social structures, they would not be easy to displace.
Japan is less isolationist sure but conquering Korea in the Imijin war is difficult to imagine, the Japanese had an inferior naval technology than the Koreans and at any internal trouble Korea would fall in enemy hand.
During the Ming collapse maybe but I doubt the Qing wouldn't try to reconquer Korea.
During the Ming collapse maybe but I doubt the Qing wouldn't try to reconquer Korea.