Archaeologists recently discovered the oldest known Chinese inscription at the holy site of Mount Zion, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
The inscription was found on a porcelain bowl during a joint excavation by the IAA and the Protestant Archaeological Institute. According to a press release issued by the agency this month, the artifact demonstrates “the relationship between the Land of Israel and China.”
According to the IAA, the porcelain bowl dates back to the 16th century. Its inscription reads: “We will always guard the eternal spring,” and it was spotted sticking out of the earth.
The IAA post reads: “Last summer, during a routine routine for the upcoming excavation season, Michael Chernin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, suddenly discovered a colorful object emerging from the preparation site. “When Michael took out the object and cleaned it, he discovered an inscription on its base. “
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The oldest Chinese inscription ever discovered in Israel was recently discovered at the Holy Site of Mount Zion. (Israel Antiquities Authority via Facebook)
The IAA reports that many of the findings from the excavation date from the Second Temple period to the Byzantine period, but the newly discovered porcelain bowl has an “unexpected origin.”
The bowl was most likely produced during the Ming Dynasty between 1520 and 1570, and was a symbol of the trade relations between the Chinese and Ottoman empires. This is the first bowl with a Chinese inscription found in Israel, although other ancient Chinese pottery has been found.
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The bowl was most likely produced during the Ming Dynasty between 1520 and 1570. (Israel Antiquities Authority via Facebook)
“According to Ming Dynasty history books, approximately 20 official delegations from the Ottoman Empire visited the imperial court in Beijing between the 15th and 17th centuries,” the Facebook post read. “This period is also described in merchants’ travel notes. trade relations between these empires.”
“Thus, the Chinese scholar Ma Li’s writings from 1541 record Chinese merchants’ colonies in Lebanese coastal cities such as Beirut and Tripoli. The book even mentions other important cities in the region, such as Jerusalem, Cairo and Aleppo.”
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According to the IAA, the artifact demonstrates “the relationship between the Land of Israel and China” and was “found on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.” (Israel Antiquities Authority via Facebook)
According to some Christian traditions, the Last Supper is said to have taken place in the Upper Room or Supper Room on Mount Zion. In the New Testament, mountains are also described as symbols of God’s promises.
The site also has religious significance to the Jews, as the Ark of the Covenant was kept on Mount Zion during the reign of King David.
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Centuries-old Chinese bowls are evidence of trade between the Chinese Empire and the Ottoman Empire. (Israel Antiquities Authority via Facebook)
“Evidence of trade relations between merchants from the Land of Israel and the Far East has been known from archaeological research even in early times, such as various spices,” IAA Director Eli Escusido said in a statement. “But what is fascinating is that in Evidence of these relationships was found in the form of actual inscriptions written in Chinese in an unexpected place – Mount Zion in Jerusalem!”
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