Pathway to Japanese Literature
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| Original Title | 大秦景教流行中国碑に就いて |
|---|---|
| Author | 桑原 隲蔵 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | Discovered in 17th-century China, an ancient limestone monument stands as a silent witness to a forgotten chapter of history—the arrival of Nestorian Christianity in Tang Dynasty China. Erected in 781 CE, this enigmatic stele intertwines Chinese calligraphy with Syriac script, chronicling the faith’s journey from Persia to Chang’an under imperial patronage. Buried for centuries after religious persecution, its accidental unearthing sparked global fascination: missionaries marveled at its cross-carved apex, scholars debated its authenticity, and diplomats schemed to possess it. Was it genuine Tang craftsmanship or a Jesuit forgery? The stele’s survival through dynastic collapses, Muslim uprisings, and clandestine replication efforts by foreign adventurers only deepened its mystique. As empires vied to claim its legacy—from Xi’an’s ruins to papal museums—the stone became more than a relic: a bridge between East and West, faith and power, memory and oblivion. Its weathered surface guards secrets of Silk Road monks, vanished monasteries, and a faith that once flourished in the shadow of the Forbidden City. |
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