Han Stone Reliefs
Posted on 08/04/2002 3:00:50 PM PDT by blam
Christian Designs Found in Tomb Stones of Eastern Han Dynasty
[2002-08-02] Studies show that as early as 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han, Dynasty Christianity entered into China, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time.
When studying a batch of stone carvings of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.) stored and exhibited in the Museum of Xuzhou Han Stone Carvings, Christian theology professor Wang Weifan was greatly surprised by some stone engravings demonstrating the Bible stories and designs of early Christian times.
Further studies showed that some of these engravings were made in 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han Dynasty, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time of Christianity's entrance into China.
The 74-year-old professor, who is also a standing member of the China Christian Council, showed reporter a pile of photos of Han stone carvings and bronze basins taken by him. He also compared the designs on them with that of the Bible, composed of fish, birds, and animals demonstrating how God created the earth.
Designs on these ancient stones displayed the artistic style of early Christian times found in Iraq and Middle East area while bearing the characteristics of China's Eastern Han times.
The stone carvings, being important funeral objects, are mainly found in four cities, and Xuzhou is one of them. It is reported that by now more than 20 intact Han tombs have been found, from which nearly 500 pieces of engraved stones were discovered.
It is globally accepted that Christianity was first carried into China by a Syrian missionary Alopen in 635 A.D. the ninth year under the reign of "Zhenguan" of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.).
Some experts once raised doubts that Christianity may have entered China in an early time as the Eastern Han, but lack evidence. Nevertheless, professor Wang's discovery serves to strongly back up the theory and the earlier works of his own. By PD Online Staff Member Li Heng [From: CL2000.com]
Han Stone Reliefs
It takes on special significance in suggesting that Jesus did not spend 20 years of his life pounding nails. There is no Biblical reason to believe that after age 12 he ran the local arts and craft shoppe. Indeed, there is lots of extra-Biblical evidence to suggest he traveled very widely outside the region, including to France and England. Other evidence suggests he traveled to India. Did he also travel to South America???
I've seen articles that say he was in America too but, I'm not about to post those articles.
HaHaHa! That's funny, considering some of the other areas you lead us into! You are the internet equivalent of Art Bell! ---ggg---.
But the subject of Jesus visiting South America is not a new one at all. Dr. Barry Feld would be quite comfortable discussing it, I believe.
Well that doesn't make it true.
Concensus is neither truth nor reality.
Concensus neither creates nor identifies truth.
I know. This violates everything "Liberals" believe and hold dear, including--horror or horrors!--the significance of New York Times's being the newspaper of record! They think that if something is "globally accepted" it is therefore true.
If there is no mention of Jesus on these stones, how does he know the designs are Christian? They could be Jewish.
And he would not be comfortable discussing it in THIS plane, at least, for he died suddenly several years ago now, about late 1994.
You are of course correct. His passing was a serious loss to all open-minded thinkers.
Do you see a specifically Christian fish symbol in the carving? I don't see it.
No, I'm making the broader point that it may not require a museum sign with a pointing arrow in order to possibly be understood.
Let me ask the question this way: Do you see anything in the article or the photograph that indicate that the carvings are based on Christianity rather than some other culture that had the stories of the Old Testament, such as the Jews.
Thanks it was interesting.
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