The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-04-08
A RECORD OF CHRISTIANITY IN
CHlNA' IN THE EIGHTH
CENTURY.
(Written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Rev. VIM. Busch.)

An article in The Catholic Bulletin
Cf last week recounted the story oil
the HISTORIAN Monument of Sian-fu
the oldest monument of Christianity
in China, and Of its reproduction III
replica by Mr.. Frits Holm.
This monument was erected at Sian
fiji in the year 7S1 to commemorate
the introduction of Christianity into
China by the HISTORIAN Christians
These HISTORIAN Christians were a
schismatic and heretical sect Of Syri-
an origin. They were named after
Nestorius who was Patriarch Of Con-
stantinOple and who was condemned
for heresy and deposed by the Coun-
Gil Of Ephesus. the third general coun-
ell, in the year 431. Nestorianism,
originating in Syria, was translated to
Persia at the end Of the fifth century,
and there it became the dominant re-
Egion and sent out missionaries even
to China.
The Monument of Sian-fu, erected
in ISL, tells CT the coming of Nestor-
ian preachers led by Olopun, in the
year G35 The monument is a large
column or slab of limestone, ten feet
high, about three feet in width and
ten inches in thickness; it weighs
about two tons. The top is rounded
and the upper part is decorated with
carving in relief Of design of inter
lacing dragons in Chinese style.
This design forms a background or
frame for small titular tablet which
bears the following Inscription in Chi
nese characters surmOunted by a
cross The column of the diffusion
of the splendid religion of the West
even unto the Middle Empire"
Then follows, in the body of the col
umn, long inscription in Chinese
characters containing an exposition of
Christion doctrine and an account of
its preaching in China, of it's adoption
and spread, and OF the circumstances
attending the erection Of the monu-
ment The Inscription is too lengthy
to be given here in full. The follow
ing brief summary will indicate its
character and contents
The inscription.
all things, surprising all in excellence
is .Triune and mysterious in substance
He created the universe. He created
man last CT all and gave him the
government Of all created beings
Man was originally holy and en-.
lightened; but he was led into evil
by Satan and his nature was obscured
and rendered vicious. Hence he lost
his way in search of religious truth
and vainly CROPPED in darkness for a
long time.
Then, as God is Trinity, the Mes
siah, yelling His divinity, came into
the world as man. The glad tidin9s
were announced by angels. A Virgin
gave birth to the Holy One in Syria
a star told Of the event to the Per
slams (the Magi) who came to present
tribute to Him He fulfilled the an
cient dispensatiOn as declared to the
twenty-four holy men (the writer's ot
The Old TestamenD. He established
the new religion of the Trinity. He
introduced life and destroyed death
and having completed the manifesto
tion of His power, He ascended t.
His true abode.
'Twenty-seyen books (the New
TcstamenD have been left whicl
record His teaching. His follower
make use of the water of Baptism
The Cross is their distinctive sign
They do not keep slaves, but regarC
the noble and the mean as equal
They practice modification. The.
pray seven times daily for the livin!
and the dead. And once in seven day
they offer the Sacrifice.
1T is difficult to find name to eS
press the excellence of the true arr
immortal teaching, but according t.
its manifest and meritorious work.
it is called the Illustrious Religion
Without holy men principles canno
be difIiused; without principles hol
men cannot become magnifed; bu
with holy men and right principle
united, the world becomes enli9hter
ed and civilized
in the time of the Emperor Tai
sung, among the enlightened and hol
men who arrived, was the most-virtl
GUS OiODull, lIOll TIC COuAlIl VI ~ l IL
Observing the azure clouds, he Dor
the true sacred books; beholding tn
direction of the winds, he braved di
ficulties and dangers. In the year 65
he arrived at Chang-an; the Emperc
sent his Prime Minister to meet til
guest and to conduct him into the i
terror. The sacred books were tran
lated, the sovereign becoming deepI
impressed with the rectitude an
truth Of this religion, gave speci
orders for it's dissemination in pro
lamation of the year 63S. .
Then follows the text of the pro
lamation of the Emperor Taitsun
in which he expresses his admiratic
of the Christian teaching, orders
published throughout the Empire al
provides that a Christian church
built in the capital The inscriptic
further goes on at great length, prai
ing the Emperor and his successo
and describing fiourishing and wild
spread Christianity in China und
their rule. We are told Of beautif