Christianity in China from the Seventh Century to the Sixteenth Century

Abstract

This chapter will consider the presence of the very first Christian communities in China from the seventh century to the sixteenth century. It will analyze specifically the spread and diffusion of the Church of the East, known as Jingjiao 景教 (literally, luminous religion) in Chinese, during the Tang dynasty (618–907) and the arrival of Franciscan missionaries during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The first part of this chapter will analyze the historiography of those early encounters, the perception of the Jingjiao Christian communities in China since the seventeenth century, and the recent studies on Silk Road religions and the importance of Eurasian studies. Subsequently, it will take into consideration the historical relevance of those events, the process of evangelization, and different proselytizing methods adopted during the given period. It will include an account on the importance of the figure of Alopen during the Tang dynasty China and the reconstruction of the chronicles by Giovanni da Pian del Carpine and Odorico da Podernone during the Yuan dynasty. In addition, it will also examine the artistic and visual elements produced in the given period – especially those that played a seminal role in the diffusion of Christianity in China. Finally, it will also include an account of the main characteristics of the specific Chinese Christian communities during the given period and their overall relevance.