16—17世纪耶稣会在日本的贸易活动

Trade Activities of Society of Jesus in the 16-17th Century in Japan

自1549年耶稣会在日本布教以后,日本耶稣会的教产规模不断扩大。其原因是日本耶稣会在布教的同时热心地从事生丝贸易以及其他被视作违反教宪教规的隐匿贸易。信仰世界的争夺和经济利益的争夺,是耶稣会布教活动始终追逐的目标。为此,布教与贸易互为表里,贸易支持布教,布教掩护贸易,耶稣会成为澳门(生丝)—长崎(白银)海上贸易的中介者及组织者。这种贸易使日本白银大量外流,是锁国政策形成的经济原因。

Society of Jesus had been expanding in size since Christianity began spreading in Japan in 1549.The reason is that Society of Jesus spread Christianity, on the one hand, it was interested in doing silk trade and other concealing trades which were regarded as violating Christian rules, on the other hand. The competition of the religious world and economic interests had been a major objective of Society of Jesus. Therefore, spreading Christianity and doing trade helped each other and supported each other. Moreover, the former shielded the latter. Society of Jesus was becoming the medium and organizer of maritime trade from Macao(silk) to Nagasaki(silver). This kind of trade not only made a lot of silver coins outflow from Japan, but also was the economic reason of forming closed-door policy of Japan at that time.