The Kosatsu: Visual Authority in Japan

The Kosatsu is a signboard warning Japanese villagers about the dangers of Christianity, promising punishments for followers and rewards for those who report them. It emerged during a tense period in the Catholic Church's history in Japan, as the de facto leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, began expelling Jesuit missionaries from the country. Attached to hand-forged iron, it was made to hang from a post or gate by a chain. These signboards were elevated across Japan and referenced within Japanese prints.

The Kosatsu is a large-scale medium used to spread information more effectively in a community that cannot rely on printing to share news. The wooden signboard points to Japan's use of wood in material design. It features Japanese calligraphy, which was considered an essential way to convey information. This calligraphy is distributed consistently across the signboard, with larger letterforms in the corners for emphasis. The signboard likely omits illustrations or embellishments to prioritize spreading information. It also conveys the alert's seriousness by outlining a crime and promising punishment. The Kosatsu exemplifies a departure from Western influence, not only by criminalizing Western religion but also by showcasing unique vertical calligraphic writing that differs from the left-to-right Western writing system. This added a layer of visual authority to the existing legislative order against missionaries.