8,923
edits
Changes
m
→The First Orthodox Christians in China (1242-1651)
*1242 Greek Orthodox Russians in the Western Army of the Mongols entered China; they are said to have established a small church in the far western region, site now unknown.
*1270 The Mongol Emperor of China imported a group of Russian goldsmiths.
*1406-20 The [[w:Temple of Heaven|Temple of Heaven]] (literally the "Altar of Heaven"), also known as the "Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests", was constructed during the reign of the [[w:Yongle Emperor|Yongle Emperor]] (also responsible for the construction of the [[w:Forbidden City|Forbidden City]] in Beijing), regarded as a Taoist temple, although '''[[w:Heaven worship|Chinese Heaven worship]], ''' pre-dates Taoism; the Temple of Heaven contains the inscription ''' ''"Heavenly Sovereign [[w:Shangdi|Shangdi]]"'' ''' in the Imperial Vault, ''[[w:Shangdi|Shangdi]]'' being a term used from the '''second millennium BC ''' to the present day, referring to the ''"Above Emperor"'' or ''"Above Sovereign",'' which is taken to mean ''"Lord On High",'' ''"Highest Lord",'' ''"the God above",'' ''"the Supreme God",'' ''"Above ",'' or ''"Celestial Lord".''
*1584 Russian army defeats the [[w:Khanate of Sibir|Khanate of Siberia]], opening up the overland way to the east; initial development of Russian settlements in the area to the south and east of Lake Baikal ([[w:Transbaikal|Transbaikal]]) begins, with Cossacks and others under service contract to the state (''sluzhilye liudi'') exploring new trading routes to China.<ref>William C. Brumfield. ''[http://www.cultinfo.ru/brumfield/articles/GVIR_20_4_04hires.pdf Photographic Documentation of Architectural Monuments in the Siberian Republic of Buriatiia].'' '''Visual Resources'''. Vol. XX, No. 4, December 2004, pp. 315-364.</ref>
*1587 Russians found [[w:Tobolsk|Tobolsk]], the historic capital of [[w:Siberia|Siberia]].