26 Martyrs Museum
Nagasaki Prefecture · Japan
In 1597, the shogun issued a ban on Christians, and six Franciscan missionaries and 20 Japan believers were executed. In 1962, a bronze statue monument to the Twenty-Six Saints was erected, and at the same time, this memorial hall of the Twenty-Six Saints and the cathedral were built, which introduces the history of Christianity
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Nishizaka Hill, a location of profound historical and spiritual gravity in Nagasaki. As we stand here today, the modern city hums around us, but for centuries, this ground has been synonymous with the quiet resilience…
Listen in the app2The Great Bronze Monument
Standing before the Great Bronze Monument, one is immediately struck by the sheer scale and the emotive power of Yasutake Funakoshi's masterpiece. This expansive relief depicts the twenty-six martyrs standing side-by-side, their…
Listen in the app3Zone 1: The Edict of Hideyoshi
As we enter the first zone of the museum, we are confronted with the official mechanisms of state suppression. Here, you will find a highly significant artifact: the actual document issued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi prohibiting the…
Listen in the app4The Fumie: The Test of Faith
One of the most visceral and intellectually challenging exhibits in the museum is the collection of Fumie. These are religious images, usually of Jesus or the Virgin Mary, cast in iron or bronze and set into wooden blocks. …
Listen in the app5Maria Kannon and Hidden Devotion
As the persecution intensified and Christians were forced underground for over 250 years, their devotion took on fascinating syncretic forms. In this section, we examine the Maria Kannon statues—porcelain or stone images that…
Listen in the app6The Hall of Glory
Ascending to the 'Hall of Glory,' the atmosphere of the museum shifts from historical documentation to a more meditative and symbolic space. This area is designed to commemorate the virtues of the martyrs and their ultimate…
Listen in the app7Saint Francis Xavier and the Global Mission
The final major section of the museum expands the focus beyond the local tragedy to the global context of the Catholic mission in the East. Central to this is the figure of Saint Francis Xavier, the co-founder of the Jesuit order…
Listen in the app8Final Reflections
As we conclude our journey through the 26 Martyrs Museum and exit back onto the quiet plaza of Nishizaka Hill, I hope you carry with you a deeper understanding of the complex tapestry of Nagasaki's history. We have moved from the…
Listen in the app9Closing
The legacy of the twenty-six martyrs and the hidden Christians of Nagasaki is a unique chapter in world history. It is a story that began with a bold, public declaration of faith, followed by two and a half centuries of total…
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What is 26 Martyrs Museum?
26 Martyrs Museum is a place in Nagasaki Prefecture · Japan with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Nagasaki Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 32.7542, 129.8717 |
| Last updated |
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