500-Year-Old Chinese Inscription Uncovered in Israel’s Mount Zion Excavation
Archaeologists have uncovered a rare Chinese inscription on a 16th-century porcelain bowl fragment during excavations on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, revealing the earliest evidence of a historical connection between China and the land of Israel. The artifact, discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology (GPIA), bears the phrase, “We will forever guard the eternal spring.”
The discovery was made during preparations for this year’s excavation season when Michael Chernin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, spotted the colorful fragment sticking out of the soil. Dr. Anna de Vincenz, a pottery expert, identified the inscription as Chinese, and researcher Jingchao Chen from Hebrew University deciphered its meaning.
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Dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1520-1570), the bowl represents a tangible link to trade relations between the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Palestine at the time, and imperial China. Historical records suggest active trade between the two empires, with about 20 Ottoman delegations visiting Beijing during the 15th-17th centuries.
Chinese scholar Ma Li’s writings from 1541 describe merchant colonies in key regional cities such as Beirut, Tripoli, Jerusalem, and Cairo, highlighting the deep economic ties between the regions.
“This inscription offers extraordinary insight into the trade and cultural exchanges between the Far East and the land of Israel,” said Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. It also marks the first known Chinese inscription found in Israel, making it a significant addition to the archaeological understanding of global connections during the Ming era.
