RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Japan
military authorities cordially welcoming that carried on by the Young Men's Christian Association in Manchuria, the emperor himself contributing to its support, while in Japan there was much done for the soldiers on their way to the front, for the invalids in the hospitals, and for the families that were in distress. The statistics of Protestant missions show that at the close of 1907 there were 295 male missionaries and 255 unmarried women; the total, including wives, being 789. There were 529 organized churches, of which 102 were wholly selfsupporting. The church-members (including probationers and baptized children) numbered 71,818, of whom 57,830 were communicants. The adult baptisms in the year had been 8,623; and the money raised by the churches amounted to 274,- 608 yen ($137,304). There were 469 ordained Japanese ministers, 626 evangelists, and 208 Biblewomen.
While many varieties of Protestantism are represented in Japan, there has been a great degree of harmony among the different bodies. 7. HarmonyNearly all have joined heartily in ofProtes- united evangelistic efforts, and have taut Effort, manifested a tendency toward the organic union of churches having similar forms of government. The churches connected with the various Presbyterian missions form the Nippon Kirisuto Kyokwai (Church of Christ in Japan); those connected with Episcopal missions of America and England form the Sei Kokwai (Holy Catholic Church); and a similar union of Methodists was effected in 1907 These three bodies and the Kumi-ai Kyokwai (Congregational churches) are of nearly equal strength, their membership including more than five-sixths of the whole. Nearly all the churches except the Sei Kokwai use the same hymn-book; and by arrangement with the latter body 100 of its hymns are uniform with those of the Union Hymnal. Most of the missions are represented in the " Standing Committee of Cooperating Missions," which serves as "a general medium of reference, communication, and effort." The Japanese Christians are also united in an alliance that holds large conventions from time to time. Most of the missions have educational institutions of various grades; a few schools have been established by the Japanese Christians. In many of the government schools of higher grade there are Christian associations. The International Young Men's Christian Association has sent secretaries to several of the larger cities of Japan, and these, in addition to work for the general associations, give counsel and help to those in the schools. The educational officials have also used their aid in securing from America men of good character and ability as teachers of English. In the island of Yezo the Church Missionary Society has a mission to the Ainu, an aboriginal race which is gradually becoming extinct. Of the 16,000 survivors, about 1,200 are Christians. Much successful work has been done among the Japanese emigrants in Hawaii and on the Pacific coast of the United States. Since Formosa came into the possession of Japan, some of the Japanese churches have sent evangelists there to labor for their own people and also for the
native inhabitants. Other evangelists have been sent for similar work in Korea (q.v.) and the Chinese ports.
Even before the country was opened to foreign intercourse, most Japanese men were able to read
more or less; and since the establish-
8. General ment of the educational system this
Results, ability has become almost universal
among both men and women. This has made a great opening for Christian literature. The translation of the New Testament was completed in 1879, that of the Old Testament in 1877. For the most part the Scriptures are sold, and not given, to the people, the largest work of gratuitous distribution being in the army. Other Christian books and tracts were at first prepared by the missionaries or under their supervision, but now they come almost entirely from Japanese writers and are to a large extent published by Japanese firms. The same is true of Christian periodicals. Schools for poor children, orphan asylums, hospitals, dispensaries, leper asylums, schools for the blind, reform schools, and homes for released prisoners have been established, and these institutions have been founded and conducted by the Japanese Christians themselves. They have so far gained the approval and confidence of the people that believers and non-believers alike have contributed toward their support, and some of them have received large gifts from the emperor and empress. The Christians are also recognized leaders in reform movements, such as those against intemperance, debasing exhibitions, and the system of licensed prostitution. The influence of Christianity is being felt in many ways that can not be tabulated. Partly because many literary men are Christians, or have been educated in Christian schools, Biblical quotations, theistic expressions, and arguments based on religious thought are common in newspapers and magazines. This shows that, in addition to what is visible to the eye, the leaven of Christian truth is silently working in the hearts of men. Apart from the directly religious results produced by the preaching of the Gospel, society is being in many ways affected by Christian ideas. No one can understand modern Japan who overlooks the influence that Christianity is exerting upon the thoughts and sentiments of the people. Otis Cary.
Bibliography: F. von Wenckstern, Bibliography of the Japanese Empire, 1859-93, vol. i., Leyden, 1895; vol. ii., Tokyo, 1907. On I. consult: E. Kaempfer, Hist, of Japan, 2 vols., London, 1728, new ed., 3 vols., New York, 1906; H. Faulds, Nine Years in Nipon, Boston, 1888; P. Lowell, The Soul of the Far East, ib. 1888; E. Lamairesse, Le Japon, histoire, religion, Paris, 1892; H. Norman, Real Japan: Studies in Contemporary Manners, Morals, Administration and Politics, New York, 1893; D. Murray, The Story of Japan, ib. 1894; J. Page, Japan, its People and Missions, London, 1895; C. Munzinger, DieJapaner, Berlin, 1898; W. G. Aston, History of Japanese Literature, New York, 1899; F. Brinkley, Japan, Boston, 1902; B. H. Chamberlain, Things Japanese, New York, 1902; W. E. Griffis, Japan in History, Folklore and Art, Boston, 1906; idem, Mikado's Empire, 2 vols., New York, 1903; idem, The Japanese Nation in Evolution, ib., 1907; Augusta M. C. Davidson, Present Day Japan, Philadelphia, 1904 ; S. Gulick, Evolution of the Japanese, Social and Psychic, New York, 1903; L. Hearn, Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation, London, 1904; G. W. Knox, Japanese Life in Town and Country, New York,
Japan Javan