Nestorian Christianity in China under the Mongol empire

The advent of Christianity in China can be traced back to A.D. 635 when the first missionary Aluoben from the East Syrian Church (usually called "Nestorian Church") arrived in Xi`an, the then capital of the Tang Dynasty (618- 907). Christianity in its Nestorian form flourished in China for over 210 years until the year 845 when a religious persecution ordered by the Tang Emperor Wuzong (reign 840-846) befell all adherents of foreign religions in the Middle Kingdom. Nestorian Christianity then suffered a sudden decline in China. It was only three centuries later when the Mongols conquered Central Asia and China that Nestorians could make a big come-back and re- established numerous communities in China. Nestorian presence in China during the Mongol period (13 th to 14th centuries) can be attested, though not plentifully, by medieval Chinese, Persian, Syriac sources as well as Western travelers` accounts. It is further confirmed by archaeological finds in China. Nestorian Ordos crosses and tomb tones with Syriac, Chinese, old- Turkish and Phags-Pa inscriptions have been found in many parts of China. However, so far no comprehensive, detailed and systematic study of the history of Nestorian Christianity of the Mongol period has been available, nor have the sources in Chinese been fully explored and utilized. A large number of the unearthed Nestorian tomb stone epitaphs have not been deciphered, translated, commented and catalogued. Researches in the past done by Paul Pelliot, A. C. Moule, Y.Saeki and others, though valuable, have been fragmentary or incomplete. A new and further study in this topic will contribute greatly to the study of the history of Christianity in general and in China particularly. The proposed project seeks to trace the spread and legacy of Nestorian Christianity in China under the Mongol Empire by re-studying and interpreting Chinese historical records and Nestorian tomb stone epitaphs. Through interdisciplinary methodology, the research intends to touch areas of history, theology, archaeology and other social sciences. A philological approach under contextual framework will be adopted when dealing with historical sources. The work eventually will serve as a comprehensive guide to the history of Nestorian Christianity in China.

The advent of Christianity in China can be traced back to A.D. 635 when the first missionary Aluoben from the East Syrian Church (usually called "Nestorian Church") arrived in Xi`an, the then capital of the Tang Dynasty (618- 907). Christianity in its Nestorian form flourished in China for over 210 years until the year 845 when a religious persecution ordered by the Tang Emperor Wuzong (reign 840-846) befell all adherents of foreign religions in the Middle Kingdom. Nestorian Christianity then suffered a sudden decline in China. It was only three centuries later when the Mongols conquered Central Asia and China that Nestorians could make a big come-back and re- established numerous communities in China. Nestorian presence in China during the Mongol period (13 th to 14th centuries) can be attested, though not plentifully, by medieval Chinese, Persian, Syriac sources as well as Western travelers` accounts. It is further confirmed by archaeological finds in China. Nestorian Ordos crosses and tomb tones with Syriac, Chinese, old- Turkish and Phags-Pa inscriptions have been found in many parts of China. However, so far no comprehensive, detailed and systematic study of the history of Nestorian Christianity of the Mongol period has been available, nor have the sources in Chinese been fully explored and utilized. A large number of the unearthed Nestorian tomb stone epitaphs have not been deciphered, translated, commented and catalogued. Researches in the past done by Paul Pelliot, A. C. Moule, Y.Saeki and others, though valuable, have been fragmentary or incomplete. A new and further study in this topic will contribute greatly to the study of the history of Christianity in general and in China particularly. The proposed project seeks to trace the spread and legacy of Nestorian Christianity in China under the Mongol Empire by re-studying and interpreting Chinese historical records and Nestorian tomb stone epitaphs. Through interdisciplinary methodology, the research intends to touch areas of history, theology, archaeology and other social sciences. A philological approach under contextual framework will be adopted when dealing with historical sources. The work eventually will serve as a comprehensive guide to the history of Nestorian Christianity in China.