Keikyo (Syrian Christianity) and Japan
Rev. Arimasa Kubo
"Keikyo" is a Syrian Christianity and is also called
"Nestorian Christianity." The Japanese name "Keikyo "(in
Chinese "Jingjiao") was used to call this teaching when it came to China and
meant the "luminous teaching."
In 431 AD a religious conference, the
"Council of Ephesus," was held. Within the Church , Mary the mother
of Christ was already called "Mother of God (Theotokos)," the
custom of praying to Mary and worshiping her had begun. Against this
practice, Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople,
declared it not proper, because it has a danger to fall into a goddess
worship. He said:
"It is adequate to call Mary
Mother of Christ (Christokos). But, she is not the Mother of God. God has no
mother."
He preferred calling Mary
"Christokos." But, Western
Church (the future
Roman Catholic Church) did not understand his reasoning and branded Nestorius
and his followers "heretics" and sent them into exile. Just because they were called
"heretics" does not make them heretics. Roman Catholics once called
Protestants "heretics". Rather, it is no exaggeration to say that
their understanding was truer than Roman Catholics of those days.
In understanding of Christology, too,
Nestorius admitted both the God and human nature of Christ. Having assessed
the understanding of Nestorius regarding the relationship between the two
persona, many of today's theologians assess him as non-heretic.
Also, it appears that schism between
Nestorians and the Western
Church was not due
purely to doctrinal differences. Rather, there were also political and racial
reasons behind it. "Sekai Hyakka Jiten (World Encyclopedia) by Heibonsha
company states as follows:
"Today, the Nestorian creed is
considered not to be particularly heretical when eliminating ambiguity of
terms used to describe the relationship between the God nature and human
nature of Christ. Their fall can be attributed to politics. Furthermore, the
Nestorian is a religious order that further developed his teachings and was
not the sect Netorius had set up himself."
Well, Nestrius and others who were
banished by Roman Catholics were called "Nestorians" or the
"followers of Nestorius." That is to say that Roman Catholics used
the word Nestorians in a slanderous way.
They never called themselves
"Nestorians." That was because it was not a new religious sect and
Nestorius was not the founder of such sect. They called themselves
"Eastern Christians." They were also called "Nazrani"
because their faith were from "Nazareth."
In China
they were called Keikyoto (in Chinese "Jingjiao").
They stated that the founder of their
Christianity was Jesus Christ and they also honored Apostle Thomas as having
graced the East in evangelism. Nestorius was only one of the leaders in the
church that believed in this tradition. So, their Christianity did not start
in 431 AD but rather it rooted to the Apostolic church.
That is why I would like to call them
"Eastern Christians" and "Keikyotos" rather than
"Nestorians."
Keikyotos were very active in Middle
and Near East and made significant
contributions to medicine, astronomy, and industries. It is said that
Mohamed, the founder of Islam, listened to Selgius Bahira, a Keikyoto, in his
youth and believed in the "Living God."
They began their great mission work
throughout the Silk Road early on. Looking
at the 6-14th century map, one can tell there were Keikyo churches in many
cities along the Silk Road from Near Middle East to East
Asia. Bar Habraeus, another Keikyoto, records much of their
evangelism.
Keikyotos came to China early.
They entered China
before 600 AD, but they formerly visited the emperor (Emperor Taiso of Tang
Dynasty) and explained the teaching of Keikyo.
The Emperor Taiso favored the teaching
and gave permission to spread the Gospel. Also, he encouraged the people to
believe this faith. In this manner, Keikyo became very popular in China.
But, after about 200 years, Keikyo was
persecuted and received a great damage. However, Keikyo became popular in
Mongol. Mongol, in those days, was the largest empire that controlled from
Near Middle East to China.
Mongolian kings issued the proclamations
of freedom of religion, but they favored Keikyo most among various religions.
Many Keikyoto aides and concubines surrounded the kings. The kings built
churches for Keikyotos, and he worshipped in them.
Keikyotos also established the mailing
system in Mongol, printed currency by wood print, compiled chronicles, built
schools, built medical facilities, published papers, and built roads across
the country that brought a very advanced civilization to Mongol.
Marco Polo, who came to China from Europe
and lived there for 25 years, marveled
at the high level of civilization he saw there.
Also, Keikyotos built facilities where
they gave food and clothing to those who were in need. This, in fact, is the
general practice that Keikyoto performed throughout the Silk
Road. They not only built churches for missionary work but they
built welfare, medical, and educational institutions along.
In fact, Shotoku Taishi (Prince
Shotoku) built "Shika-in (four institutions)" first in Japan. It
consisted of four institutions: "Seyaku-in (free pharmacy),"
"Ryobyo-in (free hospital or clinic)," "Hiden-in (nursing home
for those without relatives)," "Kyoden-in (halls for religion,
academics, and music)."
That is to say that these are welfare
and medical facilities and research institutions. The Japanese Buddhists
claim that these actions reflect mercy of Shotoku Taishi (Prince Shotoku) who
was a devout Buddhist.
However, the concept of welfare and
charity was almost non-existent in Buddhism of those days; Buddhism was the
religion for the country and the rulers in those days.
Further inspection of Buddhism in Korea and China revealed no such practice
of welfare or charity work.
On other hand, this kind of welfare and
charity work was widely practiced by Keikyotos throughout the Silk Road. They built facilities those were close
analogies of "Seyaku-in,"
Ryobyo-in," "Hiden-in," and "Kyoden-in."
According to Professor Sakae Ikeda of Kyoto University, indeed there was a
Keikyoto aide to Shotoku Taishi . During the time of Shotoku Taishi, there
were some Keikyotos unofficially present in Japan.
Professor Ikeda says the name of this
Keikyoto was "Maru Toma." In
Aramaic "Maru" means lord and "Toma" means Thomas. So,
"Lord Thomas" and this was how the Eastern Christians refer to
their leaders and saints. The name was same as Apostle Thomas but it was a
common name among Keikyotos.
That is to say Keikyotos influenced the
welfare and charity work of Shotoku Taishi.
Also in fact, a Keikyoto,
"Rimitsui" came to Japan
in 736 and visited the Emperor (Shoku Nihongi). Empress Komyo was deeply
influenced by Rimitsui and also built "Seyaku-in," Ryobyo-in,"
and "Hiden-in."
The Emress worked there as nurse. The Hokke-ji Temple
in Nara still
has a bathing room where the Empress Komyo is said to have cared patients by
herself like Mother Terresa and Nitingale did.
The Empress Komyo, too, was advertised
as a devout Buddhist in the Buddhist world, but a close inspection reveals
that Keikyotos strongly influenced her. There is a researcher who claims that
she was a Keikyoto.
Keikyo also touched Kukai and Shinran,
who are well known names in the Japanese Buddhist world. When we read their
writings, one cannot help but think that "this is close to teachings of
Christianity." This is the reason
why we feel this way. Also, Keikyotos have influenced Japanese culture and
tradition in immeasurable way.
It is generally said that one who
brought Christianity to Japan
was Francisco Xavier in the 16th century. But Christianity reached Japan more
that 1,000 years prior to that time. And it has deeply influenced Japan.
Now than ever, I pray for the revival of Keikyo in
contemporary Japan.
Keikyotos were the people who engaged in mission work with deep prayer and
the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us have rejuvenation of that prayer today!
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