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WHEN TOKUGAWA IEYASU Jj[IJ* (1542-1616) became Shogun in 1603, aware of the advantages in commercial gain and civilization, he adopted a policy of leniency toward Catholic Christianity. Nine years later in 1612, however, because of political intrigues and agitation of the missionaries and their arrogant attitude toward the high officials of the government, he issued a proclamation ordering the complete extermination of Catholics. Their history during the succeeding years was marked by ever increasing persecution and martyrdom. Especially Iemitsu * 5t (1604-1651) who became the third Shogun in 1623, devoted his energy toward the enforcement of the proclamation of 1612, and had such an organ of culture as the Jesuit mission press 1 which flourished in the latter half of the 16th and 17th centuries, destroyed. Even the severest measures, however, were not sufficiently effective to stamp out the new faith, and another proclamation prohibiting the import of all Western and Chinese books that dealt with Christianity was issued in 1630. This proclamation, known as the Edict of Kanei ; so named from the Imperial reign, is significant, for, though politically Japan for nine more years adhered to the policy of an open door, culturally and intellectually she closed her door absolutely to foreign intercourse at this time. The purpose of this paper is to trace the course of the development of the Edict of Kanei, identify the books that were prohibited, and indicate the method of censorship between the years 1630 and 1720.
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