As you play Assassin's Creed Shadows, you'll come across the term "Nanban" a few times. Either when speaking to characters or when naming important locations. But what are or is the Nanban, and how do they impact Assassin's Creed Shadows?
Who are the Nanban
In a historical sense, the term Nanban denotes the foreign traders and missionaries who came to Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries. As Assassin’s Creed Shadow takes place at exactly this time, the Nanban are mentioned frequently during the game, though often as the names of locations, such as "Nanban Temple" shown below.
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The term "Nanban" (南蛮), which roughly translates to "southern barbarians," was used by the Japanese to describe Europeans - especially the Portuguese, Spanish, and later the Dutch, who arrived at the southern tip of Japan. While they had a number of negative influences on the region, they also drastically changed the art produced in Japan at the time.
These traders introduced firearms, Christianity, and new goods, influencing Japanese warfare and society. Until this point, Japan was a nearly entirely closed-off country with very little to any foreign influence. However, their presence also led to tensions, with the Tokugawa shogunate eventually banning Christianity and restricting foreign influence.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows depicts the Nanban as merchants and missionaries. In your first moments with the game, you play as Yasuke, still called Diogo at the time. He is introduced as a slave to the group of Portuguese priests who are introduced to the Shogun. While the Shogun makes it very clear that he isn’t a fan of the Portuguese, he sees something in Diogo. This starts the chain of events that leads to Yasuke’s story unfolding.
They remain referenced throughout the game, most notably Nanban Temples, which act as Christian hubs as they seek to spread the religion. Generally, the Nanban is not viewed favourably, with the very start of the game making it very clear that the Portuguese, in particular, are very much asking for forgiveness rather than permission.
FAQ
Who were the Nanban in Japanese history?
Early on, they were mostly Portuguese and Spanish, but collectively they were Catholic Missionaries looking to spread their faith to a country that had been closed off to the rest of the world.
Can you use Nanban Weapons?
Yes, one of the few ways Japan did embrace these Nanban was through the use of guns, or arquebus, as it was known at the time.
Does the Game Involve the Nanban?
The Nanban are very much part of the set dressing of the story. They play a major part in the early story, but quickly fade into the background later on.
