This fascinating artifact, discovered in 1623 and now housed in the Musée Guimet in Paris, is one of the earliest known examples of Christian art in China. The inscription on the stele, which dates back to the 8th century, tells the story of a mission sent by the Tang Emperor to the west, where they encountered the teachings of the Christian church. This edition includes a facsimile of the stele, along with translations of the inscription and a detailed introduction to its historical and cultural context.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.