Origin of Origins...our Aloha [Elohim], the Triune, the mysterious Person, the unbegotten
and true Lord." This long passage also describes "the Messiah" who in "his true majesty
appeared on earth as a man.... A virgin gave birth to the Holy One in Da-Qin. A bright star
announced the blessed event." It also states that "27 standard works of his Sutras were
preserved", a clear reference to the New Testament. "His law is to bathe with water and with
the Spirit and thus to cleanse from all vain delusions and to purify men until they regain the
purity of their nature." "[His ministers] carry the cross with them as a sign, and travel about
wherever the sun shines and try to re-unite those that are outside the kingdom." This religion
is referred to as "The Way" "but its meritorious workings are shown so brilliantly that
we...call it by the name of 'the Luminous Religion.'" [adaptation of Saeki's translation].
The text then recounts the arrival of Christian missionaries at Xi'an, the eastern terminus of
the Silk Road. The mission team was led by "a highly virtuous man named Alopen in the
kingdom of Da-Qin" who "in the ninth year of the period named Chen-kuan [AD 635]
arrived in Xi'an". "The Emperor dispatched his minister, Duke Fang Hsuan-ling, with a
guard of honor, to the western suburb to meet the visitor and conduct him to the palace. The
sutras were translated in the Imperial Library. [The Emperor] studied the Way in his own
Forbidden apartments, and being deeply convinced of its correctness and truth, he gave
special orders for its propagation." The text then quotes the imperial decree issued by the
emperor in 638 about this new religion. It ends by saying, "This teaching is helpful to all
creatures and beneficial to all men; so let it have free course throughout the Empire."
We are then told that a monastery was built in the capital, and a portrait of the emperor was
hung in it, and 21 priests ordained to serve there. When the Emperor T'ai-tsung died, he was
succeeded by Kao-tsung (AD 650-683) who "caused monasteries of the Luminous Religion
to be founded in every prefecture... and spread throughout the ten provinces.... Monasteries
were built in many cities while every family enjoyed great blessings."
The text goes on to describe how between 698-712, first Buddhists in the East, then Taoists
in the West slandered the new religion. But Christian leaders rose up to strengthen the
church and under Emperors Hsuan-tsung (AD 712-755), Su-tsung (AD 756-762) and Tai-
tsung (AD 763-779) the church again flourished with royal favor. This section of the text
then concludes with praise for the present emperor, Ching-tsung (AD 780-804). The
blessings of that time are then enumerated, closing with the words "all these are the
meritorious fruits of the power and working of our Luminous Religion."
Next comes a eulogy for the Christian dignitary who seemingly paid for the stele to be
erected, I-ssu. He is described as a highly decorated court official and general in the Chinese
army of the 3 emperors, but also as a priest and rural bishop of the capital Khum-dan.
The last major part of the inscription is a lengthy poem honoring God and the emperors who
championed his church. The concluding lines give the imperial date, name the ruling
patriarch of the "Luminous Communities of the East" and name the artist who inscribed the