Si-ngan-fu is in Middle China, in the province of Shen-si. Here, in 1625, Jesuit missionaries found a stone with a long inscription in Chinese and Syriac. At first Protestants said they had forged it themselves; now no one doubts its authenticity. For one thing, if the Jesuits had forged it they would have done it better. The Chinese part is apparently very difficult to translate. But there is no doubt that it is a monument put up by Nestorians in honour of their religion. It is dated (in our reckoning) 781. It is long and involved, as Chinese inscriptions are. It has as title: "Tablet eulogizing the propagation of the illustrious religion in China, with a preface composed by King-tsing, priest of the Syrian Church." Then it begins: "Behold the unchangeably true and invisible, who existed through all eternity without origin," etc. "This is our eternal true Lord God, threefold and mysterious in substance. He appointed the cross as the means for determining the four cardinal points," etc. Lower down: "Thereupon, our Trinity being divided in nature,[1] the illustrious and honourable Messiah, veiling his true dignity, appeared in the world as a man." "A virgin gave birth to the Holy One in Syria." An account of Christianity, of the Bible, of Christian morals follows. Then: "It is difficult to find a name to express the excellence of the true and unchangeable doctrine; but as its meritorious operations are manifestly displayed, by accommodation it is named the Illustrious Religion." "In the time of the accomplished Emperor Taitsung, the illustrious and magnificent founder of the dynasty, among the enlightened and holy men who arrived was the most virtuous Olopun[2] from the country of Syria. Observing the azure clouds, he bore the true sacred books; beholding the direction of the winds, he braved difficulties and dangers." This Olopun is said to have arrived in the year 635; which would give us a date for the first missionary in this part of China. The inscription goes on at great length, praising the Chinese king and describing a most flourishing and widespread Christianity under his rule. And this in 781! Finally: "This was erected in the second year of Kien-chung of the Tang dynasty, on the seventh
