Haunted House in Warring States Japan

Summary

This transcript recounts the tale of the first Europeans, a Portuguese crew, who landed in Japan in 1542. According to the memoirs of a sailor named Pinto, the crew was placed in a haunted house by a local warlord, where they experienced supernatural events such as poltergeist-like attacks. One sailor warded off the spirits by making crosses, which supposedly impressed the warlord. The story mixes historical facts with supernatural elements and highlights the introduction of European guns and Christianity to Japan. The speaker questions the truthfulness of Pinto’s accounts, citing embellished descriptions.

Takeaways

• 🌊 A Portuguese ship was blown off course in 1542 and shipwrecked off the coast of southern Japan.
• 🏝️ The shipwreck occurred on the island of Kyushu, specifically in the province of Bungo.
• 👑 The local warlord, or daimyo, sent his men to investigate the shipwrecked Portuguese sailors and their belongings.
• 🏠 The sailors were allegedly placed in a haunted house, where they experienced supernatural phenomena like being thrown against walls by invisible forces.
• 👻 The hauntings were described as terrifying, with objects moving on their own and disembodied screams in the night.
• 😱 One sailor, in desperation, created crosses out of sticks and placed them around the house, which seemed to banish the spirits.
• 🔫 The daimyo was also interested in the advanced Portuguese guns, which were far superior to the Chinese firearms known in Japan at the time.
• ✝️ The Portuguese sailors explained their belief system to the daimyo, who became intrigued by the power of the crosses.
• 🎎 The Portuguese traders wanted to spread Christianity, and their trade in guns helped missionaries gain access to Japan.
• 🤥 The speaker questions the authenticity of the sailor’s memoirs, noting embellishments like the supposed haunted house and inaccurate depictions of Japanese court rituals.

Q & A

Who was the first European to set foot in Japan according to the script?

The first European to set foot in Japan was a Portuguese sailor, potentially Fernão Mendes Pinto, though the speaker refers to him as a 'habitual liar,' casting some doubt on the accuracy of his memoirs.

How did the Portuguese sailors arrive in Japan in 1542?

In 1542, a Portuguese ship was blown off course in a storm and shipwrecked off the coast of southern Japan, on the island of Akashi, which was part of the Bungo province in Kyushu at the time.

What was the political situation in Japan when the Portuguese sailors arrived?

Japan was in a state of near-constant warfare, described by the speaker as a time when every domain fought against its neighbors, creating a highly unstable and dangerous environment.

What did the local warlord (daimyo) do when the Portuguese sailors washed up on shore?

The local warlord sent his men to investigate the Portuguese sailors and collect any remaining items from their ship. He wanted to see who these foreign people were and what goods they had brought with them.

What supposedly happened to the Portuguese sailors after they were taken in by the local warlord?

According to Pinto's account, the Portuguese sailors were placed in a haunted house, where they experienced supernatural events such as being thrown against walls and hearing disembodied screams. One sailor made crosses out of sticks to ward off the spirits, and the hauntings supposedly stopped after that.

Why does the speaker call the Portuguese sailor, Mr. Pinto, a liar?

The speaker calls Mr. Pinto a liar because his memoirs seem exaggerated or fabricated, especially when he describes the court rituals of Japan, which the speaker knows to be inaccurate. However, the speaker acknowledges that Pinto's embellishments may have been intended to make the story more relatable to European readers.

What impressed the warlord about the Portuguese after the haunted house incident?

The warlord was impressed by the supposed power of the Christian crosses, which the Portuguese sailor used to banish the ghosts. He wanted to learn more about the power of these crosses and even asked for priests to be sent to explain their belief system.

How did the introduction of Portuguese guns affect Japan at the time?

Portuguese guns were far superior to any firearms the Japanese had encountered before, including those from China. This made the Portuguese highly valuable trading partners, as warlords during this era of conflict wanted the best weapons to dominate their rivals.

What role did missionaries play in Portuguese-Japanese relations?

Missionaries accompanied the Portuguese traders and were tolerated by the warlords because of the valuable guns the Portuguese brought. However, the spread of Christianity later became a threat to Japan's social order, leading to the expulsion of missionaries and Europeans once Japan was reunified under the Shogun.

Why does the speaker question the authenticity of Pinto's story about the haunted house?

The speaker is skeptical of the haunted house story because it includes sensational elements, such as ghosts physically attacking the sailors. The speaker suggests that Pinto may have embellished the story, but acknowledges that it makes for a captivating narrative.