At about the time of this tomb—more precisely, during the 7th century AD and thereafter—it is known that Nestorian Christianity and Manichaeanism had reached China from the West.
Toghrul Quan of the Keraits, and most of the Keraits themselves were Nestorian Christians. So was Hulegu’s wife.
At about the time of this tomb -- more precisely, during the 7th century AD and thereafter -- it is known that Nestorian Christianity and Manichaeanism had reached China from the West.Too bad Mohammed didn't die in infancy. But anyway...
Nestorian TabletThis remarkable record of the fact that Christianity flourished in medieval China is a huge stone about ten feet high. Carven dragons and a cross adorn its summit, and its main shaft is completely covered with some two thousand Chinese characters. It stands now in the Peilin or "Forest of Tablets" in Sian-fu, this Peilin being a great hall specially devoted to the preservation of old historic tablets. Up to a few years ago the ancient stone stood with other unvalued monuments in the grounds of a Buddhist monastery, exposed to all the assault of the elements. Only European urgence has led to its being preserved in the Peilin... [I]n the year A.D. 781 erected this stone in commemoration of its triumphs. Now, alas, only the stone remains. The record of the sect's decay has needed no stone to make it manifest. Nestorian Christianity, shut off from its mother land by the rise of the Mohammedan powers in between, proved unable to resist the inroads of ignorance and superstition and changing political affairs. It degenerated and disappeared.
by Paul Halsall
July1998