Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Notes on Translations and Japanese Names -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- The Plan of the Book -- The Syncretistic Religious World of Japan -- CHAPTER ONE: The Jesuit Mission to Japan: The Origin and Growth of the Kirishitan Tradition -- The First Message -- A Policy of Adaptation -- Native Missionary Staff -- CHAPTER TWO: Understanding New Symbols -- Kirishitan and Christian Symbols -- Images of European Priests -- CHAPTER THREE: The Dochiriina Kirishitan, a Catechism -- A Text for Popular Edification -- A Kirishitan Text: Some Characteristics -- The Structure of the Text -- CHAPTER FOUR: The Kirishitan Teachings in Japanese Context -- The Afterlife as the Place of Salvation -- The Kirishitan Divinity -- The Sinful Human and the Kirishitan Salvation System -- CHAPTER FIVE: Ritual Practice of the Kirishitan -- Baptism and Penance -- Ritual Life of the Kirishitan -- CHAPTER SIX: Apostasy, Underground Practice, or Martyrdom -- Development of the Anti-Kirishitan Policy -- The Kirishitan under the Tokugawa Persecution -- Apostasy, Underground Practice, or Martyrdom -- Conclusion -- Appendices -- Appendix I -- Appendix II -- Bibliography -- Glossary -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- M -- N -- O -- R -- S -- T -- Y -- Z -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z.