十七世紀基督教在北圻的發展與挫折：勒魯瓦耶（Abraham Le Royer）神父在東京（Tonkin）之見證

Development and Setback of Christianity of North VietnamDuring 17th century: Father Abraham Le Royer in Tonkin and his witness

基督教什麼時候傳入越南？根據越史所記是在 1533 年便有洋人衣泥樞潛入以「爺蘇左道」傳教，比耶穌會士沙勿略來中國還早十九年。當時越南人稱基督教為「花郎道」，可見早期傳教士多是葡萄牙或西班牙人。所謂「花郎國人」即明史所稱的「佛郎機人」。至於耶穌會士到越南傳教的第一人是中國籍神父丘良稟，他於1621~1626 受派前來越南南圻（交阯支那）傅教，另一位法蘭西人羅德則在1623 被派往越南中部傳教，他在1627 年在北圻創立了耶穌會東京教區，他於1630 年被逐出境，但當時受洗禮的越南基督教教徒已有六千人。越南大概在十六世紀初便處於內戰，由於政治的動盪不安，以及管治能力下降，人心浮動，提供宗教傳播的良好氛圍，也成為耶穌會士潛入傳教的機會。到十七世紀中葉，東京的基督教徒已達二十萬，當時南北仍處於分裂狀態，但分治之局大致底定，南北政權強化勢力範圍的管轄。1663 年在越南北部的東京政府，正式全面禁止「天下學花郎道」的政策，自此傳教士的活動大受打壓、迫害，甚至是殺戮等。勒魯瓦耶神父在1692 年禁教時進入越南傳道，直至1715 年去世。在漫長的二十三年歲月中，大都躲在船上或森林裡從事宗教活動，見證了東京地區基督教的發展與挫折。本文透過勒魯瓦耶神父的見證，重建十七世紀時東京基督教的歷史。

When did Christianity introduce to Vietnam? According to Vietnamese history, a priest came to Tokin in 1533. At that time they called the Christianity as ‘Ye Su Zuo Dao’( 耶蘇左道) or Far Lang Dao( 花郎道). It was obvious that the early missionaries were mostly Portugal or Spaniard. The first priest of the Society of Jesus went to Chchin-China was a Chinese priest 丘良稟(Dominique Mendez) in1621-1626. Another French priest Alexandre de Rhodes sent to South Vietnam (Chchin-China) in 1623 and founded the Society of Jesus in Tonkin in1627. But he was chased to leave the country in 1630. At that time, there were already 6,000 Vietnamese Christians. Vietnam was in civil war at the beginning of the 16th century, because of the turmoil of politics offered the good atmosphere for the religion to spread. By the mid-17th century, the Christians in Tonkin had been already up to 200,000. At that time, the north and south were still in the divided. In the government of Tonkin, the policy of banning Christianity was ompletely exercised in 1663. Since then the activity of missionaries in Tonkin were faced a hard time of persecution and even massacre. Father Le Roy entered Tonkin to preach in 1692 and passed away until 1715. While he stayed to preach in Tonkin nearly 23 years, mostly hiding on the boat and living in the forest. He had witnessed the development and setback of Christianity of Tonkin. This paper briefly rebuilds the Christianity history of Tonkin in the 17th century through the priests witness of Father Le Roy.