Conclusion

It is difficult to pin point the exact reasons why the Assyrian Church did not manage to set up a lasting diocese in China in the 7^th century. Whether it had to do with the syncretic nature of the Nestorian sect, or of the three formal religions already co-existing in China at the time is hard to say. The turnover from the T’ang dynasty definitely affected the young diocese, and the eventual Muslim conquest seemed too much to survive. In the end the most interesting aspect of the Nestorian Church in China is not why it didn’t survive. Looking back upon the Stele and Dunhuang documents we see evidence of how a small branch of a foreign religion interacted with three of China’s most long lasting and prominent religions. It, in the end did not last, but by looking at the use of language, terms and imagery we see in the Chinese Nestorian texts we can glimpse an always pervasive and syncretic nature that we can also note along the Silk Road and its history. Faced with the struggle of assimilation, language and foreign lifestyles this is a perfect example of the how the Silk Road dealt with its constant foreign and distinct cliental.