A TANG DYNASTY BISHOP

A Tang Dynasty Bishop with Distinctive Miter on the Left, and a Modern Miter of the Same Motif on the Right.

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

Do you know we have one archeological portrait of an ancient Chinese miter? A few years ago, I discovered this remarkable “Tang Three Color” (唐三彩) funeral effigy that was discovered in a courtly burial mound in Shaanxi Province (陕西省). It represents an oddly bearded foreign man in a short, green upper robe, holding a white jade or ivory imperial tablet, with a strange hat on his head. 

I read the Chinese researchers opinion of it, and the opinion of local scholars shocked me. It was not the style of Chinese in the Tang. This was universally recognized as a religious hat from the Persian minority living in China at the time. They speculate that it was made out of molded felt and leather. The descending bird insignia was not typical for Chinese heraldry, but it does occur in Persian and western designs on the Silk Road frequently. Notice that the hat has no “ears,” which were mandatory for public servants in the Tang and showed someone’s social position. Also, the face of the wearer is noticeably Western, with big, bulging eyes, a full, fluffy beard, and a prominent nose. 

What is a foreigner wearing a funny hat, in a third-rate official green robe, with an emperor’s mandate in his hand, showing that he was both in China legally and had also been given an official role in the administration in China doing in the Tang Dynasty? Well, this description really only fits what we know of Syriac Bishops and Chorbishops at the time. 

The white jade or ivory “Hu Ban” (笏板) in the statue’s hands was only carried by officials. It had the official’s rank on one side, and his mandate on the other. They carried this in court like a badge of office, and they used it as their “carte blanche” in the greater society to do whatever they were commanded to do by the Emperor. We know that an official mandate was given to St. Alopen and his followers to establish churches throughout China. We know that they did so with the support of the first emperor of the Tang, Li Shimin (AD 599-649), called Tang Tai Zong. The actual text of this mandate comes down to us on the so-called “Nestorian Stele” (despite having a completely orthodox confession of faith that shows Christ to be fully God and fully man), which was written by St. Adam Jingjing of Chang’An. 

Maybe this missionary mandate is what this Syriac Bishop is holding for all to see on his “Hu Ban?” We may never know for sure, but it is certainly an interesting look into a lost Christian history in the Far East! We take inspiration from it as our Diocese continues this mandate and tradition, seeking to propagate an Apostolic Faith in the Far East, baptizing, making disciples, and sharing the love and life of the Trinity through the administration of the Holy Sacraments! 

May God help us to be faithful! Blessed Epiphany!