During the Tang dynasty, Christianity contributed to the vibrant culture of the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). The presence of the sculpture of Lu Dong Bin among the many others in the caves of Baishan at Dazu China is evident of Christianity existing side by side with Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.
Born in 755 AD in Shanzi, Lu was educated as a physician in a Syriac Christian family that lived in Xian. In 781 AD at the age of 26, he had a hand in the Nestorian monument in the capital city. With his intellect, he was co-opted into the government though late in life as he failed in the imperial examinations many times.
It is said that he was instrumental in the translation of Christian Gospels and Buddhist Sutras initiated by the emperor. Lu Dong Bin was involved in the writing of the Messiah Sutra on the Trinity.
His fame grew and his compassion for the poor was well known. The Buddhists and Taoist contemporaries incorporated him into their faiths and he was elevated as part of the pantheon of Chinese deities.
(Chinese culture as we all know would normally absorb all religious beliefs as one in popular ethnic religion. No religion will exist for long as distinct from the others.)
He passed on in the year 805 AD and he is etched in history with a sculpture of him carved into the Baishan Caves of the Dazu region that is in the south of Xian.
Ancient Asian Christianity likely centered around Lu and this evolved and became incorporated as a new sect of Taoism - the Religion of the Elixir of Life. Present day Taoists regard him as the lead person in the Eight Immortals in their pantheon.
In later centuries after the Tang era, legends arose that attributed him performing miracles similar to that of Lord Jesus. Whether this is true or that they were merely transferred from Christian gospels to the biography of Lu is a matter of contention.
There were writings of him changing water to wine, making the blind see and the lame walk, raising a child from the dead as well as his having a miraculous birth. He was also associated with doing good works among whores and like Jesus, the writings on Lu point to his also being a wandering preacher.
Like Jesus, the writings point to two central parameters in life - loving God and loving one another. He too lived simply and with little material possessions.
Is Lu the 'Jesus' of the Tang Dynasty?
Born in 755 AD in Shanzi, Lu was educated as a physician in a Syriac Christian family that lived in Xian. In 781 AD at the age of 26, he had a hand in the Nestorian monument in the capital city. With his intellect, he was co-opted into the government though late in life as he failed in the imperial examinations many times.
It is said that he was instrumental in the translation of Christian Gospels and Buddhist Sutras initiated by the emperor. Lu Dong Bin was involved in the writing of the Messiah Sutra on the Trinity.
His fame grew and his compassion for the poor was well known. The Buddhists and Taoist contemporaries incorporated him into their faiths and he was elevated as part of the pantheon of Chinese deities.
(Chinese culture as we all know would normally absorb all religious beliefs as one in popular ethnic religion. No religion will exist for long as distinct from the others.)
He passed on in the year 805 AD and he is etched in history with a sculpture of him carved into the Baishan Caves of the Dazu region that is in the south of Xian.
Ancient Asian Christianity likely centered around Lu and this evolved and became incorporated as a new sect of Taoism - the Religion of the Elixir of Life. Present day Taoists regard him as the lead person in the Eight Immortals in their pantheon.
In later centuries after the Tang era, legends arose that attributed him performing miracles similar to that of Lord Jesus. Whether this is true or that they were merely transferred from Christian gospels to the biography of Lu is a matter of contention.
There were writings of him changing water to wine, making the blind see and the lame walk, raising a child from the dead as well as his having a miraculous birth. He was also associated with doing good works among whores and like Jesus, the writings on Lu point to his also being a wandering preacher.
Like Jesus, the writings point to two central parameters in life - loving God and loving one another. He too lived simply and with little material possessions.
Is Lu the 'Jesus' of the Tang Dynasty?
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| Lord Lu Dong Bin from wikipedia |
Please do take note. As with famous Chinese personalities, there is need to keep an open mind for myth is often intertwined with history. But one point to note is the strength and dominance of culture over religion.
All religions and sects will be integrated as part of the big culture of the society, be it Chinese or any other culture. Culture will color the societal perception of prophets and founders of religious systems and even give a very different projection of the founders that is in difference from that in the country or race of origin. This is and always will be the case and history will bear witness to this.
A very meek and humble founder will be projected as pushy and demanding by the society that is behind him. Others may have no wish of even starting a new religion but just to improve on the spiritual ways of the day. But alas history and society may end up ascribing new religions in their names.
Religions and sects are by men and often not by the so-called founders. As society changes, so will be the views of men. Thus new religions and new sects as well as more obvious cults will arise.
What matters is the basic or inner truth or word that forms the very nucleus on which the whole gamut of culture or belief systems are woven. This is the purpose behind the mission led by Lord Bo Tien for the whole wide world to understand. This is the very reason for the Living Life Series.
All religions and sects will be integrated as part of the big culture of the society, be it Chinese or any other culture. Culture will color the societal perception of prophets and founders of religious systems and even give a very different projection of the founders that is in difference from that in the country or race of origin. This is and always will be the case and history will bear witness to this.
A very meek and humble founder will be projected as pushy and demanding by the society that is behind him. Others may have no wish of even starting a new religion but just to improve on the spiritual ways of the day. But alas history and society may end up ascribing new religions in their names.
Religions and sects are by men and often not by the so-called founders. As society changes, so will be the views of men. Thus new religions and new sects as well as more obvious cults will arise.
What matters is the basic or inner truth or word that forms the very nucleus on which the whole gamut of culture or belief systems are woven. This is the purpose behind the mission led by Lord Bo Tien for the whole wide world to understand. This is the very reason for the Living Life Series.
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| Lord Bo Tien |
