In 1494, the Yellow River flooded yet again.

Although the inscription of 1512 did not specify the purpose of its existence, it is possible that this flood significantly damaged the synagogue, and a tablet was erected to commemorate the restoration.

Original name in Chinese: 尊崇道经寺记.

Translation of the name according to Bishop William Charles White, A Record of the Synagogue which Respects the Scripture of the Way.

Translation of the name according to Professor Tiberiu Weizs, Record in Honor of the Daojing Temple.

The name of the inscription was carved in ancient seal characters on the very top of the stone monument.

In the 1512 Inscription, the term was used to refer to the communal synagogue, which changed from the Pure and Truth Temple (清真寺) to the Temple that Respected the Way and the Scripture (尊崇道经寺记). According to Professor Xu Xin of Nanjing University, this name change was catalysed by a desire for the synagogue to be distinguishable by locals from Muslim mosques.

At the time of its completion, this pillar stood on the north side of the synagogue.

Most of the family patronymics on the 1512 Tablet was erased by the Kaifeng Jews who sought to hide their Jewish and foreign identity during the Taiping Rebellion (太平天国之乱, 1850–1864) when China was extremely xenophobia in sentiment.

In 1850, although faced with a tremendous challenge, as so much debris had accumulated around the tablet that it was almost buried, the two Chinese Delegates made copies of the text of the inscriptions.

In 1866, when Reverend W.A.P. Martin visited, the synagogue had disappeared, but this tablet was still there. It stood in the exact same location for almost another 50 years until 1912 when the Canadian Anglican Mission took it over. They moved the tablet to their own compound and placed it on the right-hand side of the western entrance to the Trinity Cathedral. A roof was built to protect it from weathering and erosion.

This stele is still extant.

Although not stated explicitly by the text of the inscription, it is possible that the 1494 flood damaged the synagogue, and this stele was made to commemorate the restoration of the synagogue.

Many scholars also believe there seems to be no clear impetus for creating this second inscription, as the last one was completed only two decades prior.

According to the inscription, the religion of the Israelites (一赐乐业教) came from Tianzhu Xiyu (出天竺西域).

Its holy Scriptures started to circulate in the Zhou Dynasty (稽之周朝，有经传焉), with the first ancestor being Adam (始祖阿耽).

According to Professor Chen Yuan (陈垣, 1880–1971), Tianzhu (天竺) is an ancient term used to denote a place far to the west; it could refer either to India or to Judea.

Xiyu (西域) is also an umbrella term used to represent the land west of China; it could refer to India and may refer to places as far as the Middle East, Rome, or even Egypt.

In the year 1163, a synagogue was built in Kaifeng (宋孝隆兴元年癸未，建寺于汴).

The inscription did not specify that this was the first time a synagogue was built in Kaifeng.

Jin Bo of Yangzhou respectfully placed a holy Torah Scroll in the synagogue and donated a second gate (淮阳金薄请道经一部立二门一座).

Content extracted from: The Kaifeng Stone Inscriptions, Tiberiu Weisz.

 Zuotang of Jiangdu, jinshi degree,

started public service as a Court Classifier Officer

an associate advisor to the Governor

of the Province of Sizhuan,

composed this inscription.

Gaofang of Huinan, jinshi degree,

started public service with a degree

of chengshilang as a Census Officer with the

Ministry of Revenue and formerly a Hanlin Bachelor,

wrote the inscription in vermilion.

Xuang of Weiyang, jinshi degree,

started public service with a degree of

chengshilang, formerly Historiographer

with the Ministry of Revenue,

recorded the seal characters at the top.

It was often said

The Scriptures were full with Dao.

But how about those (who followed) Dao?

They used it everyday.

People in antiquity and today

Gathered together

To follow its principle (li).

Therefore, the big (principles) contained

the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues.

The small (principles) contained

affairs and things in minute details.

Without things, there is nothing.

Without time, nothing happens.

That is what Dao contains.

Though Dao without the Scriptures

Cannot exist,

The Scriptures without Dao

Cannot be implemented,

Makes it non-Scripture.

Then the Dao is without fulfilment.

People will be reckless,

Will not know what to do,

They will suddenly talk nonsense

And will walk in seclusion.

Therefore the way of the sages

Handed down the six scriptures

With a proclamation for posterity

That reached today and

myriads of future generations.

As for the religion of Israel,

The first ancestor was Adam.

(The religion) originally came from Tianzhu, the Western Regions.

Searching for it in the Zhou Dynasty

There was a Scripture that was transmitted.

The Daojing contained four sections

And 53 chapters.

Its principles were subtle

Its Dao was mysterious

(It was) worshipped as it were Heaven.

Those who established the religion,

Only Abraham was the ancestor of the religion,

And Moses was the transmitter of the Scriptures,

(he) was the teacher of the Law.

He later originated the religion.

Since the time of the Han

(ancestors) entered and settled in China.

(Then) under the Song Emperor Xiao

in the first year of Emperor Longxing

in the year of gui wei

an ancestral temple was built in Bian.

In the 16th year of the Emperor Zhiyuan

Of the Mongol Dynasty, in the year of ji-mao

It was rebuilt.

It was their (ancestors’) old monastery.

(It was) a place to respect and worship the Scriptures.

The thing was that the religious ones

Did not stop at Bian.

(They) were all over Under Heaven (China).

The thing was that the religious ones

Everybody respected the Scriptures

And worshipped the Dao.

Although the written characters of the Scriptures

differed from the written characters

of the Confucian books

Yes, in principles, they were in constant harmony with Dao

With which it had similarities.

Therefore:

when the Dao is in harmony with father and son,

the father is kind and the son is filial.

When the Dao is in harmony with the Prince and Minister

The Price is benevolent and the Minister is respectful.

When the Dao is in harmony with elder and younger brother

The elder is friendly and the younger is submissive.

When the Dao is in harmony with husband and wife

The husband is peaceful and the wife obedient.

When the Dao is in harmony with friends

The friendship is both beneficial and trustful.

Nothing was greater in Dao than benevolence and righteousness.

To be in harmony with them,

One had the “feeling of natural sympathies,

shame and dislike.”

Nothing was greater in Dao than rites and wisdom.

To be in harmony with them,

One had the “feeling of respect and honor,

Approval and disapproval.”

When the Dao is in harmony with fasting,

One must be series and respectful.

When the Dao is in harmony with ancestral sacrifices,

One must be filial and sincere.

When the Dao is in harmony with prayers:

“Praise and bless the High Heaven (shangtian)

Creator of all Things.

The relationship between countenance and cordiality

was at the root of what was called

Sincerity and respect.

When it came to the widower, the widow,

The orphan and childless,

The aged and the prone to sickness,

And those who were disabled,

Nothing was greater than to give

generously to charity,

and not to cause others to lose their shelter.

If a poor (wanted) to marry

But could not take a wife

And one (wanted) to perform a funeral

But could not bury

Nothing was greater than to assist with the

utmost effort.

All marriage funds and funeral utensils

Were all contributed.

When it comes to mourning

Avoided meat and wine.

When it came to preparing for a corpse for burial

Did not have prolonged writings

Followed the rules of the rites

And did not believe in sorcery.

Next, when it came to

Weights and calculations, pecks and bushels

Light and heavy, long and short

Dared not cheat other people.

Look at today.

If those who initiated subjects to study

And “brought glory to one’s parents

And became celebrated”

They had made it.

If those who arranged order among China and foreigners

and were loyal to the Prince and benefited the people,

They had made it.

Or, those who subdued the enemy and resisted aggression

And were “boundlessly loyal to the country”

They had made it.

Or, those who were virtuous and cultivated themselves

to make good (deeds) to the village

They also made it

Alas, when farmers filled the fields

And contributed to public revenues;

When artisans were skillful in their craft

And did it for public use without being weary;

When merchants were diligent in far away (places)

And prominent on the rivers and lakes;

When local traders were diligent in the prefect

And benefited from communicating in other dialects

They also made it.

Alas, it meant that (they)

Were afraid of the Heaven’s commands

Submitted to the laws of the King

Emphasized the Five Relationships

Honored the Five Constant Virtues.

Respected the ancestors customs

were filial to father and mother

Submitted to the superior

were in harmony with the village

Cordial with teachers and friends

Taught the sons and grandsons

Engaged in basic occupations

Accumulated virtues in secret

Tolerated small resentments

Instructed encouragement

All were contained in this

Alas, this was the Scripture.

Those who followed the

Dao daily and consistently

They were like this.

Therefore,

Heavens commanded the natural disposition

Following it, there were wholeness.

Cultivating the religion of Dao,

Following it, there was progress.

Virtue, Benevolence, Righteous and Wisdom

Following them, there was existence.

Now if those who molded idols in clay

Painted them in colors

(They were) vain things with empty content

Dazzled the ears and eyes

But they were heresy.

They were definitely not sufficient to be esteemed.

But those who honored the Scriptures

Their knowledge was at the root of it.

The Scriptures were transmitted in succession

since its beginning, since the creation.

Adam transmitted it to Noah

Noah transmitted it to Abraham

Bahan (Abraham) transmitted it to Isaac

Isaac transmitted it to Jacob

Jacob transmitted it to the Twelve Tribes

The Tribes transmitted to Moses

Moses transmitted it to Aaron

Aaron transmitted to Joshua

Joshua transmitted it to Ezra.

Thereupon the religion of the ancestors

was brilliant and renewed with brightness.

Therefore they all engaged in teaching

(They) only instructed good (deeds)

and warned against evil.

Mornings and evenings

They warned

To sincerely devote to cultivate themselves

To observe fasting holidays

To drink and eat what was permitted and (not to eat and drink) what was not.

As to the Scriptures

“If recited with respect,

With honor and with esteem,

Then blessing from Heaven

Will be brought forth in abundance.

(His) principles and grace will be

without transgressions.

Everybody will be virtuous

And good (deeds) will be praised.

Every family will proceed with kindness

Nourishing it with joy.

When this will be (attained),

Then many (will accord) with

the meaning of the patriarchs of the religion.

Nothing will be discarded

And in honor of the rituals

Nothing will be made in excess.”

Engraved in stone at the synagogue

To set an example forever

That people may know the origin

And our offspring read its truth.

In the seventh year of Zhengde of the Great Ming,

in ren-shen year

in the first month of autumn (meng-qiu)

on the jia-zi day, the temple was rebuilt.

An, Li, Gao, and Qinpo of Weiyang

Requested a scroll of the scriptures,

Ereacted a second gate.

Qinjun of Ningxia

Erected the stela and the tablet pavilion.

Qinzhong revised the composition

Of the stela and the tablet pavilion.

Engravers of the characters: Zhangluan and Zhangxi.