THE CHINESE REPOSITORY. VOL. XIV.-MAY, 1845.-No. 5. ART. I. The Syrian Monument, commemorating the progress of Chritianity in China, erected in the year of the Christian era seven hundred and eighteen, at Singán fú. FREQUENT mention has been made in our pages of this celebrated monument, discovered by some Chinese workman, a. d. 1625, in or near the city of Síngán, the metropolis of the province of Shensí, and once the capital of the empire. The city is situated on the river Wei, lat. 34° 16′ N. The monument was found covered with rubbish, and was immediately reported to the magistrate, who visited it, and caused it to be removed to a pagoda or temple, where it was examined by both natives and foreigners, Christians and pagans. Semmedo and other Roman Catholic priests visited it, and carefully examined the inscription upon it. They have described it as a slab of marble, about ten feet long, and five fect broad. On one side of it is the Chinese inscription, in twenty-eight lines, twenty-six characters in each line, besides a heading over the top in nine characters, and another on the right side comprised in seventeen characters. Of this Chinese inscription we give three translations,-Kircher's in Latin, Dalquié's in French, and one in English, for which we are responsible. We add also the Chinese as given by Kircher, in his China Illustrata, published at Amsterdam. These translations and the Chinese will each occupy a separate column. The Chinese is not divided into paragraphs, and the Latin and French translators have simply made a paragraph of each line of the Chinese, as it was found on the monument. In the English we have attempted a division into paragraphs according to the sense; the figures refer to corresponding ones at the end, where a few explanatory notes will be found. The 17 characters, on the side of the inscription, we have placed at the top. 26 VOL. XIV. NO. V. A TABLET (COMMEMORATING) THE DIFFUSION OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS RELIGION OF TA-TSIN IN CHINA.1 A stone tablet commemorating the diffusion of the illustrious religion in China, with a preface, written by King Tsing, a priest from the Church in Judea. 碑中流景大 景秦序碑行景 淨寺 頌中教 述儈大并國流 Now verity, the unchangeably 妄之作元 VERILY, true and recondite, the eternal cause of causes, the far-seeing 鈿性匠風妙 and purely spiritual, the never ending and incomprehensible 飾虛成而身玄 Being, who grasping the poles created the universe, and being 純而萬生無 more excellent than the holy ones," is the supremely honorable. 精不物 This is our mysterious Trinity," the true eternal Lord Jehovah!6間盈然氣 He, determining, in the form of the cross, to establish the four 平素立 quarters of the earth, moved the primeval Spirit," and produced 大蕩初 空 all things visible and invisible." The dark expanse was changed, and heaven and earth were un folded. The sun and moon revolv ed, and day and night began. 9 and benignity; and commanded 若常然眞寂先先 玅先 於之八易羅眾而 him to rule the world. His orig- 中 nal nature was entirely pure and unsullied; and his simple and un corrupted heart, was wholly free from inordinate desires. But at 冥 length Satan, by exercising dissi mulation, and by throwing a gild ed covering over that pure and 冥洎 阿聖无 天歟以元 艮地判元窅 十尊 字煮 月以其虚 同于化 定惟後 uncorrupted nature, took away 於娑海而四我後 equity and greatness from the center of good, and insinuated 彼殫渾畫方 而 evil and darkness in their stead." 非施元夜鼓三妙 DE MAGNA CYN (JUDEA VIDELICET) CLARISSIME LEGIS PROMULGATE IN CIUMKUE (ID EST, SINARUM IMPERIO) MONUMENTUM. Clarissima legis promulgatæ in Sina Lapis Eterna laudis & prologus. Tacyn (id est, Judæa) Ecclesia Sacerdos, Kimcym, retulit. PRINCIPIUM fuit semper idem, verum, quietum, primorum primum, & sine origine, necessario idem, intelligens & spirituale, postremorum postremum & excellentissimum existens, ordinavit cælorum polos, & fecit ex nihilo excellentissimè; perfecti omnium Sanctorum, pro origine adorant, quem ille solus personarum trium unica perfectissima substantia non habens principium, veritas Dominus holooy statuit crucem per pacificare quatuor partes mundi, commovit originis spiritum & pro duxit. Duas mutationum causas (Sinicè dicuntur ym & yam, hoc est, materia & forma) obscurum vacuum mutavit, & cœlum, terram aperuit, solem, lunam circumvolvit, & diem noctem fecit, artifex operatus universas res. idem erigere voluit hominem, ornato donavit amabilissimam pacificæ unionis subordinationem (id est, justitiam originalem) præcipiebat quietem fluctibus maris, integra originis natura vacua humilisque & non plena superbaque, sequi appetituum fluctuationem corde, de se, neque levissimè desiderabat, promanavit à Sotan (id est, Diabolo) extensus dolus, clam ornavit naturam puram & simplicem otiosa pace magnificam in illius permanentiæ medio odium occultavit simul per laudemn mali LE MONUMENT DE LA TRES ILLUSTRE LOY PROMULGUEE DANS CIUMKUE (C'EST A DIRE DANS L'EMPIRE DES CHINOIS, DESCOUVERT DANS LA GRANDE CHINE SCAVOIR LA JUDEE. La pierre digne d'une eternelle loüange, & le prologe de la trés illustre Loy promulguée dans la Chine, fait par Kim сут Prestre de l'Eglise de Tacyn (c'est à dire de Judée.) LE PRINCIPE a esté tousjours le mestous autres, & sans origine. Il a me. veritable, paisible, le premier de esté encore necessairement ce qu'il est, intelligent, spirituel, le plus noble, & le plus parfait de tous; il a reglé les Cieux, et a fait de trés belles choses du Neant; les plus parfaits de tous les Saincts adorent celuy qui n'a point de principe, & lequel estant unique en sa trés parfaite substance, a trois personnes divines qui participent sa divine essence. Le Seigneur Holooy qui est la verite, a resolu de pacifier les quatre parties du monde par sa croix; il a excité l'esprit d'origine, & a produit à mesme temps. Il a produit deux causes des changements (les Chinois les appellent Ym & Yam, c'est à dire la matiere & la forme) il a changé le vuide obscur, & a manifesté & descouvert le Ciel & la Terre. Il a fait le Soleil, & la lune qui par leur mouvement font la nuit & le jour. Le mesme ouvrier qui a fait toutes choses a voulu eslever l'homme; aussi l'a-t'il orné de la trés aymable subordination d'une union pacifique (c'est à dire, de justice originelle). Il commendoit le repos aux flots de la mer dans le temps de son origine. Sa nature estoit vuide & humble, sans estre pleine ny superbe de soy ; son cœur n'estoit point porté à suivre les mouvemens des appetits & ny songeoit méme pas; c'est de Sotan (c'est à dire du Demon) par une extension de sa malice) que ce malheur luy est arrivé; Dieu orna secretement la nature pure & simple d'une paix profunde & magnifique en il cache intericurement sa haine par la louange de sa malice, à la faveur de son obstination & de son opina 204 The Syrian Monument. Hence arose a multiplicity of 三三告尊 12 sects, following each other in close succession, striving to weave their legal nets: some substituted the creature for the Creator: some considered being as nothing, sink MAY, 空之 常 一 祥彌然有 之净波 施無以 ing all things in oblivion:andsome,門風斯 in order to gain felicity, made prayers and offered sacrifices. Others deceived mankind with a 開無睹 show of goodness. With wisdom 生言耀隱迫 and solicitude they labored hard; and their anxieties and cares were unceasing. They were bewildered 滅之以眞轉禱 and obtained nothing. Heated and 死新來威 scorched, they writhed in anguish. They accumulated darkness, and lost their way; and, being misguided, they were irrecoverably lost. set Thereupon our Trinity 13 apart the illustrious and adorable Messiah; "who, laying aside his true dignity, came into the world as man. Angels 15 proclaimed the joyful tidings. A virgin gave birth to the holy child in Judea. A bright star proclaimed the happy event. Persians,16 seeing its brightness, came with presents. He fulfilled the ancient laws, given by the twenty-four holy ones." He ruled families and na- Trinity, pure, spiritual, and inex- 18 good usages by the true faith. He established the measure of the eight boundaries.19 He purged away the dross, and perfected the truth. He opened the gate of the three constant virtues," 20 re vealing life and destroying death. He suspened the bright sun, to 於聖 正有 燒 同積以五 出亡 有天 途 善 信說宣休 制之慶復 八舊室於人 境法女是智 之 理誕我 我虑 度 營指 鍊 塵於大 以 成大 眞猷景身役宗 tiæ ad intra, istud causavit ter centum sexies decem quinque sectas, humeri hominum sequebantur ordinem vestigiorum contendentes texere regularum retia, aliqui monstrabant res creatas pro credendo principio, aliqui vacuum habebant pro origine duarum causarum, aliqui præstabant sacrificium ad accersendam fortunam, aliqui conquirebant falsa bona ut deciperent homines, prudentiæ cogitationum inventiones dolosæ, amoris passione, gaudentes laborabant sic absque eo, quod possent consequi, torrebantur arctissimè revoluti que cremabantur; aggregantes tenebras sine via; à multo tempore deperdentes excellentem beatitudinem; in hoc tempore personarum trium una communicavit seipsam clarissimo venerabilissimoque Mi Xio; operiendo abscondendoque veram majestatem; simul homo prodiit in sæculum ; Spiritus de cœlis, significavit lætitiam, virgo fœmina peperit Sanctum in Tucyn (hoc est, Judæa) clarissima constellatio annuntiavit felicitatem; Po su (Reges ex illa terra Orientali) viderunt claritatem, & venerunt offerre munera subjectionis completa bis decem quatuor sanctarum. Est prophetiarum antiqua Lex; gubernavit familias, regna (id est, omnes) cum magna doctrina, locutus trinæ unitatis puram, spiritualem sine verborum strepitu, novam Legem; perfecit bonos mores cum directa fide; ordinavit octo finium & beatitudinum loca & gradus; Locum igneum pargandi pulveris, perficiendæ integritati, aperuit trium virtutum scholam; reseravit vitam, extin treté ; c'est pourquoy il a esté la cause de trois cent soixante quinze sectes. Les hommes suivoient l'ordre des Vestiges, s'efforçant de tiltre des filcts de raison. Quelques uns montroient que les choses creées devoient passer pour estre leur propre principe; quelques autres disoient que les deux causes prenoient leur Origine du Neant. Les uns offroient des sacrifices à la fortune pour se la rendre les biens trompeurs, afin de tromper favorable; les autres recherchoient les hommes; les uns se tourmentoient par les frauduleuses inventions de la prudence de leurs pensées; & les autres estoient consommés par les ardeurs de l'amour, et ainsy ils se voyoient esgallement travaillés. Outre ce qu'ils pouvoient obtenir; c'est qu'ils estoient trés estroitement liés aux flammes, roulés sur un feu qui les consommoit, accumulant tenebres sur tenebres; perdant despuis un long temps l'excellente beatitude. Dans ce temps une des trois personnes s'est communiquée au trés illustre & au trés venerable Mi Xio; couvrant & cachant sa veritable Majesté ; il s'est fait homme dans le monde; l'Esprit cœleste a marqué la joye; une femme Vierge a enfanté le Sainct en Taryn (c'est à dire en Judée. Une tres claire estoille a annoncé la felicité. Po su (ce sont les Roix de cette terre Orientale) ont veu la clarté, & sont Venus offrir leurs presents, plains de respect & de soubsmission. Vinget quatre Sainctes (je croy que ce sont les Sainctes Provinces de ces monarques) l'ancienne Loy comprent les Prophetes; il a gouverné les familles, & les Royaumes (c'est à dire tous il a annoncé sans emphase ny bruit de le monde) avec une grande doctrine; parolles une pure, Spirituelle, & nouvelle loy de l'unité trine. Il a perfectionné les bonnes mœurs avec une Foy droite, & parfaite. Il a ordonné les huict fins, & les Cieux, & les deg rés des Beatitudes. Comme aussi il a determiné un lieu de feu pour purger la poudre & redonner la derniere perfection; il a ouvert l'eschole des trois vertus, il a fait revivre la vie, en destruisant la mort. Il a esté eslevé |