Common symbol of most Kogyokist churches, based on Emperor Kogyoku's personal Mon
Link you should read as well: Nemawashi
HISTORY
Major Nihonese movement in Christianity officially begun with Konrad Wyss, a protestant preacher exiled from Europe, who during his missionary travel traveled to Wenchuan, where he came to contact with Nihonese diaspora, thus learning Nihonese language. At that time, missionaries were already present in Nihon, with many people already being converted. Using his knowledge of Nihonese language obtaining due to contact with diaspora in Wenchuan, Konrad Wyss made his way into Nihon, where he landed in lands of Diamyo Chosokame no Takauji. The Daimyo, very sympathetic to new faith (and believed to be also fist convert), using the fact that the missionary was accustomed with both Wenchuani and Western literature classics during over fifteen years he spent in Wenchuan, was given post of acting as a teacher for his children, Yorimoto and Mitsuhide. Although Konrad Wyss died the same year as Chosokame no Takauji, older of two brothers, took over as new Daimyo, the preacher's legacy lived on. Those were times of the Asuka Jidai a long period of feudal warfare between various Lords for vacant position of Shogun. After few campaigns against neighboring lords and using his contacts in Aravea and Ghant he acquired due to missionaries to obtain matchlocks, Yorimoto was able to establish himself as most powerful lord in central Nihon, dominating almost entire Nemuro plain, one of most crucial areas, and seizing historic city of Fujian in 1524. From there Diamyo Chosokame was able to form alliance with 7 powerful lords from Northern and central Nihon, representing clans Fujikawa, Murakami, Taira, Takeda, Shiba, Date and his own Chosokame, combining them into one of most powerful alliances in Nihon at that time.
It's major rival became coalition of Southern Diamyos, led by powerful lords from Ii and Tsutui clans hailing from island of Tokai, who at that time dominated by powerful Diamyo known as Tsutui Kenshin - a devout Buddhist famed for his belief in Bishamonten, the buddhist deity of war, of which avatar his followers considered him. Years between 1528 until 1534 were long time campaign against forces of this alliance. Kenshin managed also to secure support of one of lines of Fujikawas, successfully dividing the clan. War erupted in early 1534, with Kenshin's attack on island of Gosaknyo. Decessive battle between the two coalitions happened during second battle of Kannomine, where two years earlier unresolved battle between Murakami Shingen and Ii Toyohisa took place. At the same time, a battle between two branches of Fujikawa clan took place, as the Eastern Fujikawas advanced on their ships to seize beachhead defended by their pro - Chosokame relatives: after however Fujikawa Katsuro managed to shot an arrow into an idol that his relatives considered holy, burning it on place, his kin surrendered to him and accepted the new faith.
Second battle of Kannomine took 3 days, and ended in overwhelming victory of Northern clans. Seeing that his side is loosing, Ii Toyohisa switched sides and killed Tsutui Kenshin in a surprise blow, before bringing his head to Chosokame as proof of his loyalty. Ii was spared and became Lord of Gosankyo in return, after massacring half of his clan.
At the same time however a new threat emerged: a religious movement of peasantry, majunist monks and minor diamyos, known as Jodo - Ikki emerged, promoted by emperor's brother, prince Shinran, later known as Emperor Go - Jimmu. In 1537, his brother, emperor Kogyoku, accepted Christianity and publicly rejected his divinity. Go - Jimmu used discontent among palace's aristocracy to overthrow him, failing however at killing him and allowing him to escape to Chosokame's lands, where he took shelter. Most of Chosokame forces where there helping Murakami clan deal with rebellious vassals under command of Yorimoto's brother, Mitsuhide. The emperor seized the opportunity; after a massive peasant rebellion erupted in South - Eastern Nihon in areas around Fujian, where the court resided, the horde headed for Chosokame's lands. Yorimoto was informed at last moment, not prepared for an open declaration of war; he quickly assembled whatever forces he had and headed to block the enemy access at mountains, and called his ally Fujikawa Katsuro to help him.
Final conflict of Asuka Jidai was battle of Shimazu (1538), where Chosokame no Yorimoto fought with 3 000 samurai and 1 500 Ashingaru armed with European muskets against 45 000 strong army led by usurper - emperor Go - Jimmu. Knowing the numerical advantage and the fact that the enemy had excellent cavalry provided by Natsuka clan, which so far has been marginalized by politics, Chosokame placed his men behind number of bamboo fences in a narrow valley, from which his Ashigaru could control everything below by fire. The assaults took 7 days, limiting the Emperor's army from 45 000 warriors to 18 000 warriors. Seeing the slaughter and knowning that Fujikawa clan forces are nearby, Diamyo Natsuka Kiyooki, who has been against the war from the beginning, simply rolled his men and started returning home. Emperor, treating that as treason, ordered his warrior - monks to attack his retreating unit; making another lord fighting on his side, Otomo Mitsunari, to switch sides in defense of his relative. Using the confusion, Chosokame and his samurai mounted their horses and under cover of Ashigaru fire charged straight onto the Emperor's position. During the charge Chosokame fell from his horse and only intervention of his wife Komatsuhime, and her final sacrifice, when she, trained as his protector, took upon two dozens of elite samurai, killing most of them before succumbing due to poisoned arrows, saved him from death. This was however enough for him to re-mount and continue the charge. Chosokame personally killed the usurper - emperor, causing his army to flee the battlefield. After that, both Otomo Mitsunari and Natsuka Kiyooki sworn loyalty to whom they truthfully named new Shogun of Nihon.
The battle ended with overwhelming victory of Daimyo Chosokame, often attributed as "God's miracle" - Living 50 years later historian estimated number of people killed on Imperial side on roughly 32 000, while Chosokame lost only 112 men. What happened under Shimazu had enormous impact on Nihonese history; it won Chosokame prestige enough to have several clans declare allegiance to him. Additionally, Go - Jimmu's death made opponents of Diamyo Chosokame scattered without leadership. When he announced that whoever returns to the rightful ruler will be spared, majority of former backers simply made peace with him and returned to their lands, thus beginning Chosokame Bakufu.
Diamyo Chosokame, now Shogun, even if he was devout Christian, was too busy with political reforms and eliminating remnants of resistance to his rule to focus himself too much on public affairs, although he left plenty of poems on Christianity. It was restored Emperor Kogyoku who did most for spreading the new faith after handling the political power to the Shogun (thus the church is often called Kogyokist Church from his name). Kogyoku, who learned what he knew about theology from Shogun's brother, was the one who did most preaching, considering that politically it was Yorimoto who ruled - and Emperor, seeing his effective governance, had no issues with that. Kogyoku publicly denied that he is God (as emperors were seen until then) and replaced that concept with "Mandate of Heavenly Father", which required people to obey the power as long as it ruled in accordance to God's laws. This theory also stated that the Emperor may give the power to somebody to execute this mandate in his name - thus why the position of Shogun became even more powerful than monarch. Kogyoku, who has been known as calm and peaceful man, also left an extreme impact on Nihonese culture - creating poems, theater plays, and works of art.
The new faith was spreading very quickly, partially due to "Nihonisation" of the faith by Emperor Kogyoku, partially to rapid political changes that hit Buddhist clergy. Buddhist clergy until then was extremely powerful, held various estates and even waged wars between monasteries for influence. New reforms not only were initiated by Christian, but also hit in their political influence during attempts to centralize power and establishing new, centralized administration loyal to Shogun, who ironically proclaimed religious tolerance as his first edict after moving his capital to Ishikawa. This caused some discontent, but the revolutions were quickly quelled. Chosokame died in 1560, without a heir but three daughters, described by several chronicles as "most beautiful ladies in Nihon". His brother, Chosokame no Mitsuhide, took the position after him. All Chosokame Shoguns afterwards were Mitsuhide's descendants.
First Kogyokist congregation was set in 1540, and after it the faith rapidly spread across the county, by countless missionaries trained by Emperor Kogyoku. Thus the congregations, no matter of their amount, usually call themselves after his name.
KEY BELIEVES
1. That the Bible is inspired word of God preserved for humanity forever. All believes of the church should be based on scripture alone.
2. That mankind is in state of total spiritual death; men by their nature are sinful and separated from God on basis of their wicked nature. No person is capable of salvation using their works as value of merit. As a result, a payment for sins of man needed to be made.
3. That Jesus Christ died, was buried and resurrected on the third day, paying a perfect sacrifice for atonement of all mankind, but it applies only to those who believe in him. Salvation is by grace through faith.
4. The new birth must be affected by holy spirit, which in return changes the person after the salvation occurred. Holy spirit enables the change in believer that makes him cooperate with God's wishes.
5. Salvation, as a free gift, is not dependent upon works of man and can not be lost. Nerveless, all men should strive to live a godly life in total obedience to the scripture.
6. God elected on basis of his foreknowledge those he knew would respond to his call and accept salvation.
7. That God is in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three persons are united as one in way that man is incapable of understanding.
8. That believers are the Christ's army on earth, responsible for waging the war on works of the darkness. The Christ's war is to be waged using spiritual, rather than physical weapons, such as prayer, missionary activity, deliverance from demonic oppression.
9. All believers are called to common priesthood, with elders and pastors (Bokushi) to be elected from among the congregation. Every congregation should be independent from any central authority, and should not be in any way connected with the state.
10. That Satan, the fallen angel and adversary of the Heavenly Father, is active in the world and directly attempting to counter God's actions.
11. That man has been endowed with free will to choose between God and rejection of him, a decision that should not be in any case violated or enforced. Every belief in God should be voluntary and unenforced by compulsion.
12. Rites and celebrations include; baptism and lord's supper.
TODAY
Today Kogyokist Christianity is biggest religion in Nihon, practiced by over 53% of Nihonese society, and having profound influence on culture. Autonomy of the churches has been a cause of multiple splits in the movement, resulting in creation of multiple Kogyokist denominations - such as United Kogyokist, Congregationalist Kogyokist, as well as blending with other protestant denominations such as Aravean baptist (Kogyokist Baptist church).
The view of believers as "Christ's army on earth waging spiritual war with spiritual weaponry" has been cause of massive missionary activity with zeal rivaling Banzai charge of the Imperial Nihonese Army. Countless Nihonese missionaries were sent to four corners of the Earth, being active in multiple nations.
After Shogun Kojiro's coming to power in 1989, Kogyokist creed is experiencing a revival, after falling into decline that dominated it for most of XXI century.
Kogyokist churches are also famous for some characteristic customs and vocabulary - such as referring to Jesus Christ as "Jesus the Heavenly Sovereign" - in reference to revelation 19 ; 11. Another famous custom is reenacting Luke 22;38 at ending of every Lord's supper, where two elders present a pastor two swords, in reference to believer's mission. This custom well displays militant attitude of the Nihonese faith, expressed in aggressive missionary activity. Another important custom is feet washing during Lord's supper.
Kogyokist churches are seen primarily as assemblies rather than temples; they display almost complete lack of figures and pictures. It is forbidden to pray to any object, only God, his son and the Holy spirit can be prayed to. The lack of decoration common to most churches created famous saying "empty as in Kogyokist church".
Majority of the denominations are well known for resiting attempts to liberalize, still retaining very fundamentalist position on topics such as LGBT rights, abortion, euthanasia or gender roles, their social teaching greatly influencing Nihonese society.
Nifonese religious demographics:
* Total Christian denominations: 76%
- Kogyokist (various churches): 62%
- Orthodox: 7%
- Aravean Baptist: 7%
* Non-Christian religion: 24%
- Buddhist (various sects): 22%
- Tanzist: 1%
- Other: 1%
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