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152 fact, he may be said to have dictated laws to the empire, and moreover he was a declared patron of the Christians, though scarcely one of whom they could be proud, as his hands were stained with many crimes. It is related that when he had reared his famous castle, "he placed the Christian God [a crucifix?] on the top of the keep." Significantly enough, the Japanese name for a "castle keep," tenshu, is identical in sound with the translation of the name of "God" adopted by Japanese Catholics. But whereas the latter is written with Chinese characters having a perfectly clear and appropriate meaning, namely 天主 literally "Lord of Heaven," a "castle keep" is written 天守 "heavenly protection," a transcription not particularly appropriate, which suggests the thought that it may have been hit on merely as an expedient to distinguish the later from the earlier acceptation of the term." Once introduced, the new-fashioned castle architecture spread rapidly throughout the empire; for those were days of storm and stress. Christianity spread too, some of the southern Daimyos going so far in their zeal as to prohibit the exercise of any other religion, an act of