[19TH CENTURY JAPANESE CERTIFICATE TO PROVE FAMILY WERE NOT CHRISTIANS].

[宗門改め寺請証文]. [Shūmon aratame terauke s hōmon].
[Buddhist Temple Certificate of Non-Christian Affiliation].

Japan. Bunkyu 3 [ 1863]. Stock ID #218660

Manuscript in black ink, 32 x 46cm, small area of worming at lower right of the sheet, light browning and wear at lower left margin overall very good.

This document certifies that a family of three, comprising parents and a young boy, residing in Ōmi Domain (present-day Shiga Prefecture), are not Christians and are affiliated with a Jōdo sect Buddhist temple (the temple name is unclear). The document is dated March 1863 and bears the signature of the head priest of the temple.

Such certificates, commonly known as terauke, were issued between 1671 and 1873 as part of the Tokugawa authorities' system for suppressing Christianity. They also functioned as a means of population registration, linking individuals and households to Buddhist institutions for administrative and taxation purposes.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 218660.

Price: $250.00 AU

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