This was written by the missionary and Mongolist P. Antoin Mostaert C.I.C.M. (1881-1971) about the Mongolian use of the Nestorian Cross in Ordos-Region in the first half of the 20th century.

A lot of Nestorian crosses were found since the beginning of the 20th century in North-West-China. The crosses shown here, come from the Yuan-Dynasty (1271-1368) when China was under Mongolian rule.

These crosses prove the spreading of Christianity in the past. This reflects the encounter and mutual influencing of Nestorian Christianity with the East-Asian forms of belief, especially with the Buddhism.

In the Nestorian Tradition the cross does not symbolize the suffer of Christ, but the triumph and victory. It points at the glorify resurrection of Christ. Many of the crosses displayed here, show a clear light symbolism (radiances, sun gear).

It is characteristic for the Nestorianism, which is also known as the Chinese religion of light (jingjiao). Often the crosses display a swastika in the middle, which is also an old sun symbol and plays an important role in Buddhism.

Just like the Buddhist Mandala, the Nestorian cross is also a cosmic symbol, the junction of a cosmic coordinate system.

Eight lines of radians or arrays at many crosses possibly symbolize resurrection or new creation. The bird appears as ground-shape of the Nestorian Cross or as ornament. It can be signified as the human soul, which participates at the resurrection of Christ.