From the Church of the East to the Relationship between Jingjiao and the Nestorians

Abstract

Jingjiao has always been regarded as Nestorian faction in China. This argument seems to mean that Nestorianism spread directly to China. However, historically, Jingjiao was only a branch of the Church of the East spreading into China. The perceptual link between Jingjiao and Nestorians actually connected with the theological changes of the Church in history. In short, the reason that people entitled Jingjiao Nestorians was virtually due to the influence by Nestorianism on the Church in the seventh century, which finally turned the Church to Nestorianism in Christology.