AHC/WI: Islamic Japan

[Otto Kretschmer]

Make Japan Islamic before 1600 AD.

IMO there would be no problem in Islam reaching Japan in say 1300s or 1400s via trade. The problem is to make it spread. It could spread among the lower classes as Christianity did OTL.

[TheRomanSlayer]

I think that if you could expose Japan to more Islamic merchants based in what is now Indonesia, they’d be able to convert some Japanese to Islam. Islam entered SE Asia, mainly through Arab merchants.

[American hist]

It would be a intriguing experiment however the problem with Islam ☪️ is it strictly is monotheism which would likely call for purging all of Japan’s idols. Islam, I remember is less receptive to Art when it comes to human beings. The religion of Islam is known for the jihad, so it makes me wonder samurai’s reception to it.

Christianity would have problems in Japan as homosexuality was popular in the region and traditional Buddhism had discouraged charity. Indeed, one of the very benefits of the Christian impact of Japan, was how’s charity skyrocketed thanks to Christian teaching and its organizational efforts.

Islam came to the Philippines so it would be a similar conception for Japan 🇯🇵. In Shintoism the after life is viewed negatively however the idea that someone can go on a holy war and go to heaven sounds like a sweet deal for many of the Japanese samurais. It is still to note that in countries with a Judeo Christian values suicide is much more frowned upon than honor based cultures such as ancient Rome and Japan .

[Max Sinister]

Hm, why exactly did Buddhism discourage charity? Only in Japan or everywhere in East Asia?

[American hist]

Well, Buddhism discourages charity in a scripture first in Nirvana, Buddhism . However, there are other forms of Buddhism and even Chinese Buddhism had discouraged charity would stop ranch was considered more humane, and open. Eastern religion is less absolute and not black and white with its morals and other forms of teaching. Buddhism is about karma in about one Self . I can’t remember the exact legend or parable against charity, as it was in my tax book of world religions.

[Max Sinister]

Yeah, strange, this screenshot rather tells it's good to do charity.