 |
| The Nestorian Stele, the earliest evidence of Christianity in China |
One of the earliest evidence of Christianity in China comes from the record of Arnobius, the 4th century Christian apologist. In his work Against the Heathens II, Arnobius claims that missionaries had been dispatched to Seres (the ancient Roman name for China).
Despite this claim, no hard evidence showed that there were Christians in China until the 8th century -- the Nestorian Stele. Uncovered near the Chinese city of Xian, the Nestorian Stele credited "Alopen” for bringing Nestorian Christianity to China during the Tang Dynasty.
In addition, the Nestorian Stele provides descriptions of the events of Genesis and explanations of the Incarnation. The Stele also records the leaders of the Nestorian Church, and how they were allowed by the Imperial Chinese court to propagate their faith.
