Theories on the Introduction of Christianity to Silla: The Mystery of the Gyeongju Cross

Tracking the Mystery of the Cross Found at Bulguksa Temple Along the Silk Road

• Examining archaeological and circumstantial evidence supporting the theory of Christianity’s introduction during the Unified Silla period.
• Comparing and analyzing alternative hypotheses and various interpretations within the historical academic community regarding the discovered artifacts.
• Gaining new perspectives on history through the mysteries left by cultural exchanges in the ancient world.

Did the Thousand-Year Kingdom of Silla Encounter Christianity?

In 1956, a relic that shook Korean history was discovered at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, the heart of Silla’s Buddhist culture. It was a granite cross. How could a symbol of Christianity appear in the devoutly Buddhist kingdom of Silla more than a thousand years before Western missionaries arrived on the Korean Peninsula? This question marked the beginning of the intriguing historical mystery known as the theory of Christianity’s introduction to Silla.

This article does not aim to prove a specific hypothesis but rather follows the scattered clues like a historical detective to unravel this enigma.

Silla, an International City at the Eastern End of the Silk Road

To understand the possibility of Christianity’s introduction during the Unified Silla period, one must first recognize that Silla was not an isolated kingdom. Although located at the eastern edge of the Eurasian continent, Silla was an active participant in an extensive international exchange network.

Ulsan Port: Gateway to the World

Ulsan Port, Silla’s international trading port at the time, was a cosmopolitan hub frequented by merchants from Tang China, Japan, and even distant Arabia. Silla imported jewels and spices from the Western Regions via sea routes, and through this process, the name ‘Silla’ became known even in the Arab world.

Close Exchanges with Tang China

Silla sent numerous envoys, students, and monks to Tang China. They stayed in Chang’an, the Tang capital, and had many opportunities to experience the world’s leading cultures firsthand. This human exchange was a direct channel for new ideas and religions to enter Silla.

Western Treasures Found in Royal Tombs

In the tombs of Silla’s highest ruling class, such as the Hwangnam Daechong Tomb in Gyeongju, many glassware items made in Rome and Persia were discovered. These are archaeological proofs that material and cultural links between Silla and West Asia and Europe truly existed.

Whispers from the West: Circumstantial Evidence of Christianity in Silla

Tang China, Silla’s most important exchange partner, holds decisive circumstantial evidence supporting the theory of Christianity’s introduction to Silla.

The Nestorian Stele in the Tang Capital

The “Nestorian Stele” (Da Qin Jingjiao Liuxing Zhongguo Bei, 大秦景教流行中國碑), erected in 781 in Chang’an, the Tang capital, is the most important clue. “Jingjiao” (景教) means “Religion of Light” and was the name used in China for Nestorian Christianity (Eastern Church). This stele clearly proves that during the peak of Silla-Tang exchanges, an officially recognized Christian community existed in the heart of Tang China.

Foreign Stone Statues Guarding Royal Tombs

At Gyerim Tomb (Wonseong King’s Tomb) in Gyeongju, a stone warrior statue with deep-set eyes, a high nose, and curly hair—typical features of a ‘Western’ person—stands guard. This suggests the presence of Arabs or Persians integrated into Silla society with influence, linking to the “Cheoyong” legend in the Samguk Yusa.

These circumstances imply that if Christianity was introduced to Silla, it was likely known only to a small elite familiar with foreign cultures rather than the general populace.

Central Debate: Artifacts Found in Gyeongju

Let’s now examine the key pieces of evidence supporting the theory of Christianity’s introduction to Silla.

Evidence 1: The Stone Cross from Bulguksa Temple

The granite stone cross discovered at Bulguksa Temple in 1956 is a Greek cross with equal-length arms, matching the style mainly used by the Eastern Church to which the Nestorians belonged. Additionally, bronze cross-patterned decorations were also found in Gyeongju.

Evidence 2: The ‘Silla Madonna’ Figurine

A small figurine of a woman holding a baby is interpreted by some as a depiction of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus (‘Madonna and Child’). Considering that Chinese Nestorian Christianity at the time borrowed Buddhist and Taoist terminology, some argue it could represent a ‘Maria Kannon’—a fusion of Mary and the Buddhist bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. This religious syncretism is also seen in the cross atop a lotus pedestal on the Nestorian Stele.

Comparisons and Alternative Interpretations

Counterarguments and Alternative Interpretations of Artifacts

While the theory of Christianity’s introduction to Silla is fascinating, it is not the established consensus among historians. The strongest counterargument is the ‘silent testimony’—no mention of Christianity appears in the Samguk Sagi or Samguk Yusa. Alternative interpretations of the artifacts are also quite persuasive.

Crucially, the Bulguksa artifacts were not recovered through controlled archaeological excavations, making it difficult to scientifically confirm their exact provenance or dating.

When I first encountered this story, it felt like a historical detective novel. What possibilities do you see among these conflicting pieces of evidence?

Conclusion

After tracing the mystery of Christianity’s introduction to Silla, it is difficult to deliver a clear verdict of ‘guilty’ or ’not guilty.’ However, the following reasonable conclusions can be drawn:

• Key Point 1: There is no evidence of an independent Christian community. No decisive proof of churches or organized Christian institutions in Silla has been found.
• Key Point 2: Limited contact by elite groups is quite plausible. Given active exchanges with Tang China, it is highly likely that Silla diplomats or students encountered Nestorian Christianity.
• Key Point 3: The symbols may have entered as cultural motifs rather than religious systems. Crosses and Madonna-like figures might have been introduced as exotic artistic styles or cultural artifacts absorbed into existing Silla culture.

Ultimately, the artifacts found in Gyeongju remain enigmatic whispers from the past. This mystery shows us how closely connected the ancient world was and invites us to imagine possibilities beyond recorded history.

Next Action Suggestion (CTA): If you have the chance to visit Gyeongju, stop by the National Gyeongju Museum to see the controversial ‘Madonna’ figurine and cross artifacts firsthand. It will be a special experience to encounter the mystery that traveled the Silk Road a thousand years ago.