Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/344

CHAP. IX.

KUBLAI-KHAN FAVOURS THE CHRISTIANS. — HE SENDS THE VENETIAN BROTHERS POLO TO THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF. THE TWO VENETIANS RETURN TO CHINA ACCOMPANIED BT YOUNG MARCO POLO. — THEIR JOURNEY. RESIDENCE OF MARCO POLO IN CHINA. — HIS RETURN TO VENICE. — THE NARRATIVE OF MARCO POLO. — HIS ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA.— THE APOSTLESHIP OF JOHN OF MONTE CORVINO. — HIS LETTERS TO THE MONKS OF HIS ORDER. — PERSECUTIONS RAISED AGAINST HIM.— CLEMENT V. — SENDS SEVEN BISHOPS TO CHINA. — THEY CONSECRATE MONTE CORVINO ARCHBISHOP OF PEKIN. — AN ARMENIAN LADY BUILDS A CHURCH AT HAN-TCHEOU-FOU. — LETTER OF ANDRE DE PEROUSE. — NUMEROUS MISSIONARIES IN CHINA. — ODERIC DE FRIOUL.—

HIS JOURNEY FROM THE INDIES TO CHINA WITH THE BONES OF FOUR MARTYRS. — HIS APOSTLESHIP IN CHINA — IN TARTARY

IN THIBET. — HIS RETURN TO PISA. — ACCOUNT OF HIS DEATH.

When Kublai-Khan found Buddhism so extensively diffused among the population of his vast empire, he deemed it expedient to adopt it himself, and to grant an especial protection to the Lamas. His zeal, however, for the religion of Buddha did not prevent him from respecting and spreading the faith of Christians, Mahometans, and Jews. On the days of Christian festivals, he had them brought into his presence, and devoutly kissed the book of the Gospels, after having perfumed it with incense. He said that there were four great prophets revered by all nations, Jesus Christ, Mahomet, Moses, and Chakia-Mouni; and that he held them all in equal honour, and equally invoked their celestial assistance.