Congratulations!

You’ve found the holiday ornament! (The winners have been selected as of Dec. 23, 2010. Thank you for participating!)

Christmas in the Tang Dynasty

Did you know that the first recorded Christian mission to China took place during the Tang Dynasty? The visit is documented on the Nestorian Stele which was erected in the 8th century. The tablet details the arrival of a group of Christians led by a man named Alopen. The missionaries arrived in 635 A.D. to the capital city of Changan. Subsequently, several Christian places of worship were erected in China.

The Nestorian Stele – Notice the cross at the top?

So even if you don’t win the giveaway, you received a little trivia for your efforts, n’est-ce pas?

Here’s the lovely prize:

If you know me, you know I love cats. The “Lucky Cat” is actually not Chinese. Maneki Neko is a Japanese icon and he’s beckoning with one paw. He’s believed to bring the owner luck. I’ll be sending the lucky winner the Maneki Neko cat in in an ornate red “take out” box along with a Butterfly Swords souvenir charm. Red is a color of celebration, happiness, and good fortune in Chinese culture, which is why you see it everywhere.

Along with the takeout box, I’ll also be sending an autographed copy of Butterfly Swords. If the winner has already read it, they can give it to someone they love as a gift for Christmas. 🙂

For the Grand Prize giveaway: I LOVE my new Kindle, so I’ll also be adding a Kindle copy of Butterfly Swords and The Taming of Mei Lin to the Grand Prize.

Thanks for visiting. Add a comment below to be entered for both giveaways!

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