关于日本耶稣会士商业活动的若干问题

Business Activities and Consequences of the Japanese Far Eastern Jesuits

传教士进行商业活动的基本原因是生存需要。在沙勿略传教日本期间 ,经费来源是马六甲地方长官赠送的 3 0桶上等胡椒。随着传教活动的开展 ,经费缺口越来越大。最迟在 1 5 71年 ,耶稣会开始进行有组织的商业活动。在范礼安首次远东巡视期间 ,这一活动被制度化了。他与澳门商人行会订立契约 ,每年为教会提供 5 0担生丝份额 ,并任命专事此职的管区代表负责商品储备及流通、销售、资金调配等商务活动。耶稣会士的商业活动在教会内外引起轩然大波 ,教皇、耶稣会总会长及葡萄牙国王多次下令禁止 ,教会内外的派系之争又使得这一争执趋于复杂 ,但生存需要仍使得这一备受争议的活动经久不衰。

Profitable business activities have rarely been touched upon in the study of Jesuits. But there have been no more pure cultural and religious exchanges than pure culture or religion. This problem needs due attention in the research into the eastward transmission of the Catholic Church.On November 5, 1549, Francisco Xavier wrote to Governor of Malacca in the third month after he arrived in Japan, proposing the position of a business office and a list of appropriate goods to be managed by missionaries. On July 22, 1552, he proposed a similar business office in China on his way to China for the benefit of the King of Portugal and sent the letter in care of a Portuguese merchant.Missionary concern over worldly affairs is related to religious traditions, national interest and missionary strategy, but the most direct and important reasoning was the need of subsistence. Xavier's financial resource in Japan was the superior pepper offered by officials of Malacca. But with increased missionaries and expanded activities, the expenses soared, rising from 2 000 to 10 000 humctuzado in 1570-80.Theoretically, the financial resources of the Jesuits were divided into 3 parts: annuity from the King of Portugal, that from the Pope and income from the little realty bought for the local mission. However, the annuity was often absent due to different interests and the local income often scarce. Therefore, the only option was to get involved in business transactions.The business activities of Far Eastern Jesuits date back as early as 1571, and the earliest one to practice this might be Francisco Cabral, who was in charge of Japan and China congregations. He began “criminal commercial activities between China and Japan”, with the money donated by a Jesuit. During Alessandro Valignano's first Far East inspection in 1579-82, this was institutionalized. He signed a contract with Macao Authorities stipulating the share of silk at 2 500 kilos for the Church on the annual liner to Japan and appointed business agents in Japan and Macao in charge of material storage, flow, sales and fund allocation.Forces both within and without the church were against the move, and their monastery in Macao was called an “exchange”. Many people were worried about missionary merchants. There were decrees from the Pope, the Head of Jesuits and the King of Portugal against this. This dispute was complicated by contradictions between congregations. The business activities were severely attacked. However, the need for survival prevailed, and these controversial activities obtained sustained development. These activities played an important role in the formation of the maritime Silk Road and a new Far East trade system as well as the fashion and strategy of missionary work.