Religion was commonly spread amongst the Silk Road. Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are all ideas that were embraced by multiple communities in the middle and far east. However, another religion was paving its way as well. Christianity, which is by far the largest religion today, was also on the move. Christianity has over 2 billion followers, all placed in different branches such as Catholicism or Protestantism, (TBS, 2021).[1]
The Christian Church of the East was one of the many ideas being shared amongst the Silk Road. This denomination of Christianity was also referred to as Nestorianism, (Telling the Sogdian Story). This early eastern Church arose from conflicts, resulting in a denomination being based of Syriac Christian values, (Louis, 2013). The Nestorian Church also based its foundation off the beliefs and teaching of Nestorius, (Telling the Sogdian Story).[2] Nestorius had different opinions when it came to the Holy Trinity that differed from mainstream Christianity. He believed that Christ on Earth and Christ in heaven were two separate beings, (Telling the Sogdian Story).[2] Ultimately his teachings were confronted and condemned at the Council of Ephesus, where Nestorius was accused of heresy, (New Advent).[3]
Due to these outstanding circumstances, the Church had to move way from Byzantine antagonism and settle down in Mesopotamia, (Telling the Sogdian Story).[2] However, the Church of the East did not stay settled down for long as it did progress down the Silk Road much like other religions of the time. The Christian Church of the East had a respectable following on the Mesopotamia, but the spread of Christianity was not as affluent farther east such as in China at the time being. However, all of this was going to change. While the Christian Church of the East may have not been extremely dominant, preserved records from the era show that it did reach China and influenced the area immensely.
Records show that Nestorian Christianity arrived in China as early as 635, (Hansen, 2017).[4] An inscription that was carved on a stone tablet tells the history of a Chinese missionary who arrived in Chang’an around the same to spread the word of his denomination, (Hansen, 2017).[4] The tablet even claims that the missionary, Abuoben, was able to preach the world to Taizhong, who was the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty at the time, (Hansen, 2017).[4] The Christian Church of the East started to gain some ground in the Far East, spreading over ten provinces in the East, (Hansen, 2017).[4] However, the Church did not stop there.
Nestorians began to thrive in the east, spreading all along China, India, and even Sri Lanka. This was allowed because the Mongol Empire tolerated Christians at the time, (Baum & Winkler, 2003).[5] However, once the 1300’s come along, Islam has begun to spread rapidly as well, invading the Mongol Empire. In 1370, a Mongol leaded named Timur, had a goal to wipe out all non-Muslims, (Baum & Winkler, 2003).[5] His actions, along with the Black Death making its way throughout the Silk Road, led to the immediate decline of Nestorians, (Baum & Winkler, 2003).[5] Today, the Christian Church of the East has practically disappeared; however, this little glimpse of Eastern Christianity remains fascinating as the works of Christ ventured well into the far east.
[1] CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Catholicos (newadvent.org).
[2] Christianity Along the Silk Road · Leslie's Exhibit · Telling the Sogdian Story: A Freer|Sackler Digital Exhibition Project (nyu.edu).
[3] CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Council of Ephesus (newadvent.org).
[4] Hansen, V. (2017). The Silk Road: A New History with Documents. Oxford University Press.
[5] The Church of the East: A Concise History.
Baum, Wilhelm & Winkler, Dietmar W. (2003). The Church of the East: A Concise History. London-New York: Routledge-Curzon. ISBN 9781134430192.
Freer – Sackler Digital Exhibition Project. (2021). Christianity Along the Silk Road. Telling the Sogdian Story. Christianity Along the Silk Road · Leslie's Exhibit · Telling the Sogdian Story: A Freer|Sackler Digital Exhibition Project (nyu.edu).
Hansen, V. (2017). The Silk Road: A New History with Documents. Oxford University Press.
Knight, Kevin. (2020). Council of Ephesus. New Advent. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Council of Ephesus (newadvent.org).
Knight, Kevin. (2020). Nestorians. New Advent. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Catholicos (newadvent.org).
TBS Staff. (2021, September 3). 18 Major World Religions – Study Starters. The Best Schools. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Catholicos (newadvent.org).