Sep 30, 2021
Rubbing from a Nestorian stele, Xi'an
Paper, early 20th century
In Chinese and Syriac (an Aramaic dialect), this inscription, dated 781, records a pivotal moment in East-West relations, the arrival of Nestorianism during the Tang dynasty:
"... there was a man of great virtue in the Roman empire, whose name was Aluoben. Auguring from the azure clouds, he decided to bring the true scriptures, and observing the winds, he made his way through difficulties and perils [arriving] in the ninth year of the Zhenguan period [635] in Chang'an..."