Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/63

51 TRANSLATION OF THE INSCRIPTION. 51 of their heads indicates that they have renounced worldly desires. In giving liberty to slaves, we become a link between the powerful and the weak. We do not accumulate riches, and we share with the poor that which we possess. Fasting strengthens the intellectual powers, abstinence and moderation preserve health. We worship seven times a day, and by our prayers we aid the living and the dead. On the seventh day we offer sacrifice, after having purified our hearts, and received absolution for our sins. This religion, so perfect and so excellent, is difficult to name, but it enlightens dark- ness by its brilliant precepts. It is called the Luminous Religion.* "5. Learning alone without sanctity has no grandeur; sanctity without learning makes no progress. When learning and sanctity proceed harmoniously, the universe is adorned and resplendent. " The Emperor Tai-Tsoung f illustrated the empire. He opened the revolution, and governed men in holiness. In his time there was a man of high virtue named Olopen, who came from the kingdom of Ta-Thsin. Directed by the blue clouds, he bore the Scriptures of the true doctrine ; he observed the rules of the winds, and traversed difficult and perilous countries. " In the ninth year of Tching-Kouan (636), he arrived at Tchang- ngan.| The emperor ordered Fang-hi-wen-Ling, first minister of the empire, to go with a great train of attendants to the western suburb, to meet the stranger, and bring him to the palace. He had the Holy Scriptures translated ia^the imperial library. The court scholar, who has made a rather inaccurate translation of the above inscription, has rendered these two Chinese characters most erro- neously as orthodox religion. f Tai-Tsoung was only twenty-three years of age when he sub- jugated the empire. He was proclaimed Emperor in 627, and was remarkable for his philosophical toleration, and his numerous rela- tions with foreigners. The reception he gave to Olopen i>, therefore, not at all surprising. In 629, he had subjugated all the Tartar kings, who with common consent conferred on him the title of Celestial Emperor. He died, A. d. 649, at the age of 45, after having reigned 22 years. The name borne at that time by Si-ngan-Fouj at present capital of the province of Chen-Si. It was at that time the capital of the empire, and the residence of the court. E 2
 * King-Khiao means, literally, luminous religion. A Russian