Anti-Christian Imperial Edict "Kosatsu". Edo, 17th century.

Anti-Christian Imperial Edict "Kosatsu". Japan, Edo Period, 17th century.
Sumi ink on cypress wood (hinoki).
Measurements: 39 x 88 x 3 cm.

Important and rare Kosatsu or official Japanese board promulgating the prohibition of Christianity, made during the Edo period. These boards were placed in roads, entrances of villages and urban centers to make public the dispositions of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The text, executed in vigorous calligraphy in sumi ink, warns of the strict prohibition of practicing the Christian faith or assisting its adherents, in line with the policy of persecution established after the consolidation of the Tokugawa regime and reinforced after the Shimabara Rebellion (1637-1638). In this context, Christianity was considered a threat to the political and social order, and its practice punished with extreme severity.

The great initial character introduces the edict with the solemnity proper to official announcements. The mention of Osaka suggests its administrative link to that region, one of the main urban and commercial centers of 17th century Japan.

Carved in Japanese cypress wood, a traditional material used in architecture and official signage for its durability and strength, the board retains its original top rope for suspension. The surface shows homogeneous patina and wear consistent with its age and exterior use, elements that reinforce its historical authenticity.

Original 17th century Kosatsu are rare on the market, especially those related to the prohibition of Christianity, a central theme in the religious and political history of pre-modern Japan and linked to the phenomenon of the kakure kirishitan (hidden Christians).

Piece of great historical and museum interest, direct testimony of the religious policy of the Tokugawa shogunate and the system of social control of the Edo period.