Amazing Discovery in China
Changes Christian History in Asia

Sian, China

A recent discovery - according to the local is `old news` near the city of
Sian, in Central China has dramatically changed the historical record of
China and Asia.

Asia with China and Japan in particular are thought of as predominately
Buddhist areas. The record of the Church is very limited throughout Asia
with the exception of The Philippines and Korea.

As amazing as it may seem the oldest Christian site in Asia has been
discovered dating back to 638 AD. The site which is near the ancient Chinese
capital of Sian has shattered previous understanding of the role of
Christianity in China, Japan and Asia.

The Nestorian Monument, a stone tablet in the city of Sian which was
discovered in the 1600s was the only testimony to Christianity in China.
What was always a puzzle was that it clearly stated that `monasteries abound
in a hundred cities`. This monument which is often called the `Rosetta
Stone` of Christianity in Asia was the only proof of this past.

The discovery of the Christian site has dramatically changed all this. The
Church is in the center of the Imperial area of the Tang Dynasty and its
location is what is particularly bringing amazement to experts on the Silk
Road. With the Church in the center of the imperial area it confirms for the
first time the stories that have long been passed down and appear
frequently in Chinese narratives which tell of a major Church in China in
the Tang Dynasty from 618-877.

According to The Cross and The Lotus by Lee Shiu Keung in 635, Bishop Alopen
from The Church of the East began his mission in Chang Ang, present day
Sian. Christianity had first come to China in the year 64 when the Apostl Thomas came to Sian, China from India where he had come in the year 52. Other believers are believed to have brought the gospel on to Japan by the year 70 AD.

The Church had lost contact with the rest of the world through the cutting off of the Silk Road by the people of Turkestan and the restoration of the links brought great joy and strength to the Church in China, Japan and the rest of Asia as contact was once more restored with the rest of the Church.

In 630, however the Silk Road was restored and travel between the East and
the West resumed. The Tang Dynasty was a very special period in Chinese
history where there was a broad policy of tolerance and interest in
fostering foreign religions., In 638 Alopen completed the first Christian
book in Chinese The Sutra of Jesus the Messiah.

In this book it was carefully argued that Christianity was part of China's
ancient tradition. In appreciation for the good of the Eastern Christians an
Imperial Degree was proclaimed that provided for the first building of a
Church. Later on The Church of the East was favored by another Imperial
degree and Alopen was promoted to be Great Spiritual Lord, Protector of the
Empire, Metropolitan of Chang An.

The Church encountered ups and downs but following a period of persecution
falling the fall of the Tang Dynasty grew again in the 13th and 14th
Centuries and were again so respected by the Emperor that according to the
ancient Chinese document the Yuan Shi, Chapter 89, the Governor appointed a
special officer to take charge of the affairs of the Church of the East with
the second high-test rank in China.

This office was solely to manage the affairs of the many bishops, priests,
monks and to see that ll the sacraments were carefully observed. According
to the Yuan Shi there were 72 Church of the East monasteries during the
period 1289 to 1320 not to meniton the multitude of churches and believers.

What happened? With the complete restoration of the Silk Road in the 13th
Century Pope Nicholas IV sent John of Montecorvino to the Chinese court. The
Priests of The Churhc of the East in the Imperial Court and the Franciscan`s
did no get along . One agaoin under the Mongols there was a period of great
religious toleration. This was again a period of great growth for the
Churchi n China but this again came to an end in 1369 when communications
with the world were cut off with the decline of the Mongol Empire.

This hitherto almost unkonwn periof in the Church in China and Asia testify
to the great growth of the Church.

What does this mean today? According to staff of the Keikyo Institute,
which works to establish the proper Christian History in Asia the recent
discovery has two main points.

First, it completely alters the previously thought ideas about Asia in
particular China and neighboring Japan. Previously it was thought that
Christianity was a small part of the picture but with the recent discovery
of a Church in the center of the Imperial Compound it can be clearly said
that Christianity as it clearly stated in the Nestorian Monument was a
central part of China at that time and there were Churches throughout China
and Asia.

Second, is that it clearly puts Eastern Christianity as a `Chinese` and
`Asian` religion. Particularly with an asia that is very conscious of the
Colonial eras in which the conquering was doing in the name of Western
Christianity this indigenous form of Christianity which although properly
Christian was very democratic is recombined and admired.

Two recent trips by staff from the Keikyo Institute to the site and other
sites nearby were very surprising. When informed of the fact that they were
trying to find out information about the Churhc of the East officials, the
media were surprisingly positive.

Rev. Harald Bredesen, longtime Christian minister to World Leaders was asked
spontaneously to speak in a Church a short distance from the ancient Church
and the service went on to an instantly ordered full house for over an hour.

Of particular concern, though is history. There have been many discoveries
of remains of the wonderful times of the Church in China and Asia along the
ancient Silk Road but in every instance the sites and artifacts have
disappeared.

The Keikyo Institute along with others are trying to raise funds to be able
to donate to the site and accompanying Museum so it can be refurbished to
accept pilgrims and visitors. According to Rev. Harald Bredesen who recently
visited the site `It is critical that we be able to present a gift so the
site can be repaired so that the Christian tradition of the site will
remain. If we fail at this critical moment to support this tremendous
discovery it may as in the past be forever lost and the grand tradition of
the Church as well`.

Why, some ask is it so important to find history? The answer is quite
simple. In Asia history counts. To present individuals and whole areas with
a gospel that has no connection with them is extremely difficult but to
present the gospel to them as the faith of their fathers calling them not to
accept a new religion but to `go back` is completely; different.

Further, while many countries in the regions actively discourage `western
religions` The Church of the East is clearly an `ancient` and `Asian`
religion and it enjoys great support and respect.

Belong China is what according to staff at The Keikyo Institute may be even
more amazing. The name of the Church discovered in Sian China is the same as
the oldest Temple in Kyoto, Japan which has a site within its former
premises from the Church of the East.

It appears quite clear that the oldest Temple in the `buddhist` city of
Kyoto used to be a Church.

These amazing discoveries according to Dr. Bredesen I believe are not by
accident and are so that the people of the last major unreached part of the
world - Asia can come to Christ - not a Christ with whom they have no
connection but a Christ who whey once loved.

The prayer of hundreds of years are inherited in these people there now.
Within the area of the newly discovered Church are another 10 Churches and
the fervor of the people that packed into the church within just a few
minutes to listen to the messages were great testimony to the fact that the
faith that was thought to be `western` in fact was `eastern` when Europe was
still barbarian.

It points to the simple fact that when Jesus commanded the disciples to go
to the `ends of the earth` they went and the gospel was proclaimed and the
Church grew to India in 51, China in 64 AD, Japan estimated about 70 AD and
throughout the world.

The proclamation of the Gospel to those who have `never heart` as opposed to
those who are descended from those who once knew brings the dual blessings
of pride in ones past as well as the inherited prayers of generations gone
previously.

Reporting from Sian, China,

Ken Joseph Jr.

Ken Joseph Jr. is author of a recently published book called Japan: The Nation of the Cross telling of the Christian history of Japan and Asia, which is being expanded into Asia: The Region of the Cross and translated into Japanese. As an Assyrian himself, it was his ancestors from the Church of The East that brought the Gospel to China and Japan.

The Keikyo Institute is working to raise an immediate $100,000 to provide
for the development and protection of the only Christian site in China and
development of an ongoing find to preserve this and other Christian sites to
be outposts of the faith in the most unreached part of the world in China,
Japan and other parts of asia.

In addition special tours are available which will keep a steady steam of
Christians visiting the sites making sure they are preserved and the
precious history of the Church of the East continue.

The Keikyo Institute be contacted at 660238 Arcadia,CA 91066 or
museum@keikyo.com