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Christianity in Seventh Century China

Prof. Glen L. Thompson, Wisconsin Lutheran College (glen_thompson@wlc.edu)

I. Archaeological Discoveries

A. The Nestorian Stele of 781
B. The Dunhuang Scrolls
C. The Da-Qin Pagoda

II. Missiological Implications

A. The Arrival of Christianity and Imperial Patronage
B. Limits and Effects of Royal Patronage
C. Cultural Sensitivity and Syncretism

III. Conclusion: The decline of Christianity in China?

Bibliography:
Palmer,Martin. The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Scrolls of Taoist Christianity.
NewYork, 2001.
Pelliot, Paul. Recherches sur les Chretiens d'Asie Centrale et d'Extreme-Orient, 2.1: La Stele
de Si-Ngan-Fou (Oeuvres Posthumes de Paul Pelliot , Jean Dauvillier ed.). Paris, 1983.
Pelliot, Paul. L'Inscription Nestorienne de Si-Ngan-Fou (Oeuvres posthumes, Antonio Forte
ed.). Paris, 1996.
Saeki, P. Y. The Nestorian Documents and Relics in China. Tokyo, 1951.

Table 1. Developments in Terminology in the Chinese Nestorian Documents

Jesus-Messiah Sutra

c. AD 638

Monotheism Sutra

c.AD 641

Stele

AD 781

1. God

Buddha

I- shen

One God

A-lo-ho

Elohim

2. Messiah

Mi-
shih-
ho
(and)
Mi-
shih-
so
(and)
Mi-
shih-
ho

Confused -
Teacher-
Upbraid
(and)
Confused-
Poem-
Place
(and)
Full-
Teacher-
Upbraid

Mi-shih-
ho

Full-
Teacher-
Upbraid

Mi-
shih-
ho

Full-
Giving-
Upbraid

3. Jesus

I-
shu

Remove-
Rat

I-
shu

Feather-
screen
number

I-
shu

Feather-
screen
number

4. Holy
Spirit

Liang-
feng

Cool
Wind

Ching-
feng

Pure wind

Ching-
feng

Pure
wind