Four rubbings of the inscription on the Nestorian (Xi'an) Stele, China. This Tang Chinese stele, erected in 781, documents 150 years of early Christianity in China. It is a limestone block 279 centimetres (9 ft 2 in) high with text in both Chinese and Syriac describing the existence of Christian communities in several cities in northern China. The four rubbngs are of:

• Heading - 40 x 40 cm
• Facing front side - 200 x 90 cm
• Left side thickness of the stone - 200 x 30 cm
• Right side thickness of the stone - 200 x 30 cm

With the rubbings is an explanation of them sent by Jacob Ghazarian.

A copy of the inscription from the stone tablet depicting a pair of phoenixes amongst peonies, overshadowed by a wutong tree, The original tablet was carved in the late nineteenth century and still survives at Baidi Cheng, an islet in the Yangzi River near Fengjie town in Sichuan, immediately west of narrow Qutang Gorge. The inscription tells how Baidi Cheng, White Emperor City, was founded by the first-century general Gongsun Shu and named after the dragon-like swirls of white mist which gathered about a well there. It also recalls how Bao Chao [跑超], retreated to Baidi Cheng and practised calligraphy. Bao Chao is also identified as the creator of the picture.

The copy of the inscription is on tracing paper and is a copy of the complete inscription but none of the surrounding image.

The original envelope in which it was found has been kept with the inscription. Addressed to the Librarian of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society it has been annotated by hand with details of the book in which the inscription was found and dating this discovery to 12 September 1972.