Memorial of the Propagation in China of the Luminous Religion from Daqin

The Memorial of the Propagation in China of the Luminous Religion from Daqin (大秦景教流行中國碑 Pinyin: Dàqín Jǐngjiào liúxíng Zhōngguó béi, abbreviated 大秦景教碑) is a Tang Chinese stele commemorating the arrival of Nestorianism (the Luminous Religion) of the Roman Empire (Daqin). It is a 279-cm tall limestone block. It is also translated as A Monument Commemorating the Propagation of the Ta-Chin Luminous Religion in the Middle Kingdom.

It is made on January 7, 781 (during the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang China) in Chang'an. The calligraphy was by Lü Xiuyan (呂秀巖), and the content was composed by the Nestorian monk Jingjing (景淨), using four- and six-character euphemistic style (駢體文) Chinese (total 1756 characters) and a few lines in Syriac script (70 words). On top of the tablet, there is a cross. Calling God "Veritable Majesty", the text refers to Genesis, the cross, and the baptism. It also paid tribute to missionaries arrived in date.

It was unearthed in late Ming Dynasty (between 1623 and 1625) beside Chongren Temple (崇仁寺), where it was moved to.

See also:

• Daqin Pagoda
• Religion in China

External link

• Fulltext: from Wikisources