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Christian Designs Found In Tomb Stones Of Eastern Han Dynasty
CL2000.com ^ | 8-2-2002

Posted on 08/04/2002 3:00:50 PM PDT by blam

Christian Designs Found in Tomb Stones of Eastern Han Dynasty

[2002-08-02] Studies show that as early as 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han, Dynasty Christianity entered into China, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time.

When studying a batch of stone carvings of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.) stored and exhibited in the Museum of Xuzhou Han Stone Carvings, Christian theology professor Wang Weifan was greatly surprised by some stone engravings demonstrating the Bible stories and designs of early Christian times.

Further studies showed that some of these engravings were made in 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han Dynasty, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time of Christianity's entrance into China.

The 74-year-old professor, who is also a standing member of the China Christian Council, showed reporter a pile of photos of Han stone carvings and bronze basins taken by him. He also compared the designs on them with that of the Bible, composed of fish, birds, and animals demonstrating how God created the earth.

Designs on these ancient stones displayed the artistic style of early Christian times found in Iraq and Middle East area while bearing the characteristics of China's Eastern Han times.

The stone carvings, being important funeral objects, are mainly found in four cities, and Xuzhou is one of them. It is reported that by now more than 20 intact Han tombs have been found, from which nearly 500 pieces of engraved stones were discovered.

It is globally accepted that Christianity was first carried into China by a Syrian missionary Alopen in 635 A.D. the ninth year under the reign of "Zhenguan" of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.).

Some experts once raised doubts that Christianity may have entered China in an early time as the Eastern Han, but lack evidence. Nevertheless, professor Wang's discovery serves to strongly back up the theory and the earlier works of his own. By PD Online Staff Member Li Heng [From: CL2000.com]


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 0086; 0635; 635; 635ad; 86; 86ad; ancientchina; aramaic; archaeology; artifacts; ashokaspillars; assyrianorthodox; china; christian; christianity; churhhistory; designs; dynasty; economic; edictsofashoka; epigraphyandlanguage; faithandphilosophy; found; ggg; godsgravesglyphs; han; hanchina; handynasty; history; homerhdubs; india; liquan; mauryanempire; romanempire; romansinchina; silk; silkroad; silkroute; silktrade; stones; tomb; uzbekistan
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1 posted on 08/04/2002 3:00:51 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam

Han Stone Reliefs

2 posted on 08/04/2002 3:03:56 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam
Are there pictures?

I'd be interested in seeing them.
3 posted on 08/04/2002 3:18:39 PM PDT by trussell
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To: trussell
Just the one in post #2. (The only one attached to the article, that I'm aware of)
4 posted on 08/04/2002 3:37:09 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam
Of collateral interest is how this again demonstrates the ability of at least some people to travel at that time and the apparent interaction between peoples. This is important in refuting the idea among some historians that societies were essential static and little happened from millena to millenia.

It takes on special significance in suggesting that Jesus did not spend 20 years of his life pounding nails. There is no Biblical reason to believe that after age 12 he ran the local arts and craft shoppe. Indeed, there is lots of extra-Biblical evidence to suggest he traveled very widely outside the region, including to France and England. Other evidence suggests he traveled to India. Did he also travel to South America???

5 posted on 08/04/2002 4:11:00 PM PDT by LostTribe
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To: LostTribe
" Did he (Jesus) also travel to South America???

I've seen articles that say he was in America too but, I'm not about to post those articles.

6 posted on 08/04/2002 4:19:01 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam
>I've seen articles that say he [Jesus] was in America too but, I'm not about to post those articles.

HaHaHa! That's funny, considering some of the other areas you lead us into! You are the internet equivalent of Art Bell! ---ggg---.

But the subject of Jesus visiting South America is not a new one at all. Dr. Barry Feld would be quite comfortable discussing it, I believe.

7 posted on 08/04/2002 4:22:21 PM PDT by LostTribe
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To: blam
"It is globally accepted that Christianity was first carried into China by a Syrian missionary Alopen in 635 A.D."

Well that doesn't make it true.

Concensus is neither truth nor reality.

Concensus neither creates nor identifies truth.

I know. This violates everything "Liberals" believe and hold dear, including--horror or horrors!--the significance of New York Times's being the newspaper of record! They think that if something is "globally accepted" it is therefore true.

8 posted on 08/04/2002 6:16:39 PM PDT by Savage Beast
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To: blam
I take it all back. You are NOT anything at all like Art Bell. He goes places NO ONE should go. ---ggg---.
9 posted on 08/04/2002 6:39:51 PM PDT by LostTribe
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To: blam
The article is vague, but the "Bible stories" it refers to seem to be Old Testament stories.

If there is no mention of Jesus on these stones, how does he know the designs are Christian? They could be Jewish.

10 posted on 08/04/2002 6:44:58 PM PDT by Inyokern
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To: LostTribe
FELL, not "Feld."

And he would not be comfortable discussing it in THIS plane, at least, for he died suddenly several years ago now, about late 1994.

11 posted on 08/04/2002 6:45:58 PM PDT by crystalk
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To: Inyokern
This symbol also has no mention of Jesus, but it's Christian meaning is pretty obvious. FISH.
12 posted on 08/04/2002 6:48:35 PM PDT by LostTribe
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To: crystalk
>FELL, not "Feld."

You are of course correct. His passing was a serious loss to all open-minded thinkers.

13 posted on 08/04/2002 6:49:40 PM PDT by LostTribe
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To: LostTribe
This symbol also has no mention of Jesus, but it's Christian meaning is pretty obvious. FISH.

Do you see a specifically Christian fish symbol in the carving? I don't see it.

14 posted on 08/04/2002 6:53:29 PM PDT by Inyokern
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To: LostTribe
To those unfamiliar with Dr. Barry Fell of Harvard fame, this is what we are talking about: America B.C. One of the seminal works in the field.
15 posted on 08/04/2002 6:53:38 PM PDT by LostTribe
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To: Inyokern
>Do you see a specifically Christian fish symbol in the carving? I don't see it.

No, I'm making the broader point that it may not require a museum sign with a pointing arrow in order to possibly be understood.

16 posted on 08/04/2002 6:57:16 PM PDT by LostTribe
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To: blam
This is not a new revelation. Please see the following link

http://reluctant-messenger.com/issa.htm

Very interesting reading.
17 posted on 08/04/2002 7:16:14 PM PDT by unitedwestand
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To: LostTribe
No, I'm making the broader point that it may not require a museum sign with a pointing arrow in order to possibly be understood.

Let me ask the question this way: Do you see anything in the article or the photograph that indicate that the carvings are based on Christianity rather than some other culture that had the stories of the Old Testament, such as the Jews.

18 posted on 08/04/2002 7:20:38 PM PDT by Inyokern
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To: LostTribe
Of collateral interest is how this again demonstrates the ability of at least some people to travel at that time and the apparent interaction between peoples. This is important in refuting the idea among some historians that societies were essential static and little happened from millena to millenia.

I remember the stories of how scholars were belittling the idea of Abraham and family traveling from the Tigris/Euphrates region to the Mediterranean and down to Egypt. They said much the same thing about little movement of these ancient peoples. Subsequent discoveries proved them wrong. There have been found contracts dating from the time of Abraham, actually wagon rental agreements in which there appeared specific restrictions that enjoined the renter from taking the wagon on trips over to the Mediterranean region, a clear indication that such movement was common.
19 posted on 08/04/2002 7:28:16 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: unitedwestand
"Very interesting reading."

Thanks it was interesting.

20 posted on 08/04/2002 7:38:41 PM PDT by blam
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