Japanese Cast Iron Crucifix With Buddha, Fumi-E

Description

Japanese Cast Iron Kakure Kirishitan Cross And Buddha. Condition. From the private collection of a CIA member and co-founder of Civil Air Transport.
During the Edo period, the religious authorities of the Tokugawa shogunate required those suspected of being "hidden" Christians to step on crosses such as these in order to prove they were indeed not Christians. Those who refused were tortured or killed.
One of these resides in the Smithsonian Institution collection
Age: Edo Period or Later
Dimensions of cross: 10" high x 7 3/4" wide (box: 12" x 10 1/4" x 2 1/8" )
Very rare antique Japanese cross and Buddha made of cast iron. Extremely unusual as most pieces at this time where in bronze. This is a secret object of the Kakure Kirishitan, "Hidden Christians", devoted Japanese members of the Catholic Church who went into hiding during the beginning of the Edo Period. Brought to Japan mostly by the Portuguese, the practice of Christianity was forbidden when Japan closed itself off to the world in the early 17th century. However, some still practiced in secrecy and over time, some Catholic objects were made to look Buddhist as a way to protect them and their owners