“Jingjiao”: Naming “Christianity” in the Realm of the Tang Empire (618–907)

Abstract

One of the first things we learn about Christianity in Tang China is the naming of the religion. Naming matters because the name capsulates some basic ideas and conveys metaphorical implications intended by the name-giver in the Chinese context. This paper attempts to trace the origin of identifying and naming Christianity in the Tang dynasty and investigates the meanings and implications of the names as reflected in Chinese Christian texts in Tang. The naming issue of Tang Christianity involves the process of being identified and self-identification. Jingjiao 景教 is a neologism invented around the period of Jingjing, the major contributor to the famous Christian Stele of Tang China. The name, coupled with the toponym Da Qin, can be seen not just in the Xi’an Inscription but also in other surviving manuscripts. Besides, this paper draws attention to the variant character jing 景, which appears in all those inscriptions and manuscripts, and argues that this phenomenon is under the influence of the state name taboo in the realm of the Tang Empire.