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転びキリシタン (ころびキリシタン) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
apostate Christian ; fallen Christian
Historical term for a Christian who was forced to renounce their faith during the Edo-period persecution. Often carries a nuance of having been coerced or having succumbed under pressure.
に
信しん
仰こう
を
続つづ
け
た
者もの
も
い
た
。
Among the fallen Christians, some continued to practice their faith in secret.
Written forms 転ころ びキリシタン
Standard modern spelling using katakana for キリシタン.
転ころ び 切きり 支し 丹たん
Historical ateji spelling; now rare and mainly encountered in older texts.
Kanji 転 revolve, turn around, change 支 branch, support, sustain 丹 rust-colored, red, red lead Similar words 隠かく れキリシタン 隠れキリシタン refers to hidden Christians who secretly maintained their faith, whereas 転びキリシタン specifically denotes those who publicly renounced Christianity, often under duress.
棄き 教きょう 者しゃ 棄教者 is a general term for an apostate from any religion, while 転びキリシタン is a historical term specific to Edo-period Japanese Christians.
Etymology Compound of 転び (korobi, 'falling' or 'turning away', from 転ぶ korobu) and キリシタン (Kirishitan, 'Christian', from Portuguese cristão). The term originated in the Edo period to describe Christians who apostatized under persecution.
