Catholicism

Catholicism

Catholicism is one of the three major sects of Christianity, also known as the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church and Roman Catholic Church.

It is said that Christianity was founded by Jesus in Palestine under the rule of the Roman Empire in the first century AD. In 313 ad, after Constantine I, the Western emperor of the Roman Empire, issued the "Milan edict", Christianity became the official legal religion.

Catholicism spread all over the world. Its clergy practised celibacy, and the convents formed their seclusion system, and there was a set of hierarchy system.

Catholicism in China, as of April 2018, there were about 6 million believers and 8000 religious staff. There were 98 Catholic dioceses, more than 6000 churches and activity centers registered according to law. As of September 2017, there were 9 Catholic religious colleges approved by the State Bureau of religious affairs.

Quick navigation

Panorama

History of Catholicism in China

First introduced into China

The Catholic gospel was first introduced into China in 635 A.D

1、 More than the legend of domer

The churches in India have always believed that their church originated from the domers. It is said that when he preached in India, he disappeared for a period of time. It is said that he came to China, but there is no sufficient information to prove this.

2、 The introduction of Nestorianism

Li Shimin, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, pursued an inclusive policy towards religion.

In 635, the Nestorian missionary aruben arrived in Chang'an along the Silk Road from Persia and was warmly received by Taizong Li Shimin.

In 638, Li Shimin established a holy hall for aroben and named it "protector of the nation". Many missionaries came to Chang'an to establish the holy hall, translate the five books of Mayer, the gospel and the daily lessons. The gospel slowly spread from Chang'an to Fujian and Henan, and the believers were called "crusaders".

He was persecuted twice in 699 and 713.

In 845, Taoist Zhao Guizhen slandered and Tang Wuzong ordered the abolition of all foreign religions. Nestorianism suffered a heavy blow, and Buddhism and Islam were persecuted to varying degrees. Many temples and churches were destroyed. Fortunately, the reign of emperor Wuzong was not long.

In 847, Emperor Xuanzong abolished his father's religious policy, and Nestorianism developed again.

In 878, the Huangchao uprising broke out a nationwide anti Tang movement. 120000 Muslims, Jews and jingists were killed, and Jingjiao declined from then on.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, Nestorianism was almost extinct in the mainland, except for a few believers among the northern grassland people.

In 950, Archbishop nestoria sent six monks to inspect China, but there was no result.

3、 "Popular Chinese stele of Nestorianism in the great Qin Dynasty"

Unearthed in March 1625 in the western suburb of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, the monument is 2.36 meters high, 0.86 meters wide and 0.25 meters thick. Built in 781, the monument was carved by missionary Jing Jing.

The inscription is written in Syrian, with a total of 1800 words. It introduces the main doctrines of the trinity of God, the creation of the world, the fall of the original ancestor, the birth of the son, salvation, suffering, resurrection and ascension, as well as the 146 year history of Nestorianism in the Tang Dynasty.

The gift given to the Pope by the Nestorians when they returned to Catholicism in the 16th century is a forgery of this monument. (Church of the Lord of Gardiner)

4、 Reasons for the failure of Nestorianism in China

1. One of the missionary characteristics of Nestorianism in China is its close attachment to the imperial court.

2. Although Nestorianism has made some efforts in China, it has never been sinicized.

3. In the ninth century, the road from Persia to China was cut off because of the decrease of the number of foreign and missionaries and the expansion of the influence of Arab Muslims. Nestorianism could not be sustained for a long time, and there was no foreign aid, so it finally disappeared.

The Catholic Church in Yuan Dynasty

Pope's contact with Mongols

In 1245, the Pope sent ruowang Bolang to Mongolia and arrived in 1246. At that time, the imperial court was the emperor of dingzong. Although he was well received, the emperor refused to accept the Catholic faith and unite with the Pope. However, he was excluded from the court by the Nestorians. So he returned to Europe in 1247 and wrote a history of Mongolia, which made the Europeans know more about the Mongols.

In 1253, when the king of France heard that there were parishioners among the Mongols, he wanted to unite with the Mongols, so he sent Robert Wilhelm to Mongolia. But at that time, the Mongols were very powerful. Because they looked down on the king of France, the mission failed.

In 1263, Marco Polo was sent to China. Marco Polo's father and uncle were Italian businessmen. In 1269, the emperor of Yuan Dynasty Kublai Khan sent Marco Polo's father and uncle as ambassadors to Italy. He brought a letter to see the Pope declaring that he was willing to communicate with the Pope and asking to send missionaries to China. The Pope was very happy. He immediately sent two members of the Duoming society, but on the way, they returned. Marco Polo, his father and uncle went on to China in 1275 and were warmly received by the emperor. Marco Polo lived in China for 17 years. He returned to Italy in 1295 and wrote Marco Polo's travels to China.

In China, Nestorian became a patriarch and became a orthodox. In 1278, malgu and labang Shama made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and arrived in Persia. Malcolm was blocked when he went to Israel, so he went to Iraq and was elected bishop of Nestorianism. He was bishop of Baghdad for 25 years. Labang Shama went to Rome and became a orthodox. The Pope ordained him as a priest.

Ruowang mongovino in China

In 1289, Pope Nigel IV sent mongovino to China and arrived in Beijing in 1294. He was the first missionary formally sent to China by the west, and was warmly received by Emperor Chengzong. And promised freedom to preach and build churches. However, he was arrested in the imperial court because he was excluded by the Nestorians and then released. At the same time, he also raised some children to teach them Latin. At that time, there were more than 6000 Catholics. He felt a lack of missionaries, so he addressed the pope in 1305. In 1307, the Pope sent seven missionaries to China (three died on the way, one returned on the way, and only three arrived). He also appointed Beijing as the archdiocese and montgovino as the archbishop. In 1313, three missionaries consecrated montgovino as archbishop. Montaigno sent ridora, one of the three missionaries, to Fujian to establish a diocese, where he established the first monastery with 22 people. (Quanzhou, Fujian)

In 1328, mongovino died at the age of 81. In 1333, Pope John XXIII learned and appointed Negra as bishop. At the same time, they were sent to 26 Franciscans, but they did not arrive in China.

In 1338, Pope Benedict XII sent another 19 missionaries and priests to China, led by marinori. They visited churches all over China, stayed in China for three years, and finally left a few missionaries. Others returned to Europe one after another.

The reasons for the disappearance of the church in Yuan Dynasty

The missionary objects are too concentrated, mainly for the Mongolians in Beijing.

After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (1368), it adopted a closed door policy and did not contact with the West. So that it was difficult for the missionaries of the Papacy to reach China.

"The second exile to Babylon" -- in the year of 1325 of grimmon V and 1378 of Ezra Xi, during which 73 years, a total of seven Pope were in Avignon. The Pope was not free and could not know the situation of China.

From 1378 to 1417, the great division of the West lasted for 39 years. The holy master Darlene advised me to return to Rome, but I died soon after returning to Rome. The new election of ulban VI was not recognized by the French church. Then he elected grammon V, and there were two popes, which caused more disputes. As a result, the cardinal Council elected Alexander V to abdicate the first two, but they did not obey, so there was a tripartite confrontation. In 1417, the cardinal Council held a grand council meeting to elect Martin V, which ended the tripartite situation. Due to the division of the west, the Holy See was unable to send missionaries to China.

Almost 1.6 million people died in the black death. The economy is declining and people are in a panic. The church in the west is short of human and material resources, so it can't care about the distant China. Ming Dynasty persecuted Xinxing religion, but the church could not stand on its own, so it gradually disappeared.

Two centuries later, after the discovery of the Cape of good hope, the Church introduced the gospel to China for the third time.

The Catholic Church in the late Ming Dynasty

In 1492, Columbus discovered the American continent. In 1497, da Gama, a Portuguese, discovered India. Magellan went around the earth and discovered the eastern continent. Therefore, it is convenient for foreign teachers.

The origin of the right of protection and education is that Spain and Portugal are fighting for the colony. So we asked the Pope to solve the problem. At that time, the Pope was Alexander VI. As a result, Asia and Africa are governed by Portugal and the Americas by Spain. It is suggested that the missionaries should be sent to these places, and they should have financial support to protect their personal safety and the right to recommend bishops. But these have affected the development of the church. It was not until the fifteenth day of the Pope's reign that the Ministry of missionaries was established. He had the right to send missionaries without the need for Portugal and Spain