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Manichaeism is a former major religion founded in the 3rd century AD by the Parthian prophet Mani, in the Sasanian Empire.
Mani was an Iranian prophet and the founder of Manichaeism, a religion most prevalent in late antiquity. This religion is strongly influenced by Gnosticism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism. It was once widespread, but is now confined to small areas of China, such as Fujian.
Asoristan was the name of the Sasanian province of Assyria and Babylonia from 226 to 637.
Buddhologist Edward Conze (1966) has proposed that similarities existed between Buddhism and Gnosticism, a term deriving from the name Gnostics, which was given to a number of Christian sects. To the extent that Buddha taught the existence of evil inclinations that remain unconquered, or that require special spiritual knowledge to conquer, Buddhism has also qualified as Gnostic.
Mar Ammo was a 3rd-century Manichean disciple of the prophet Mani. According to Manichaen tradition he spread Manichaeism eastward into Sogdiana during the time period when Mani was living. Mar Ammo is well known as the apostle of the east in Manichean literature nevertheless his exact origins are unknown. His Syriac name may denote that he was Syrian in origin. However, a Parthian origin may also be seen and is mentioned by some scholars, especially due to his outstanding role in establishing the Parthian language as the official language of the eastern Manichean Church, later to be replaced by Sogdian in the sixth century. Furthermore, Mar Ammo is widely regarded as the composer of the Manichaean Parthian hymn-cycles.
Agapius was a philosopher associated with Manichaeism. He is believed to have lived in the fourth or fifth century.
Abū Hilāl al-Dayhūri was a Manichaean leader. Of North African origin, he served as archegos, the traditional leader of the Manichaean sect seated in Seleucia-Ctesiphon some time during the mid-to-late eighth century.
Cao'an is a temple in Jinjiang, Fujian, Luoshan Subdistrict. Originally constructed by Chinese Manicheans, it was considered by later worshipers as a Buddhist temple. This "Manichean temple in Buddhist disguise" is seen by modern experts on Manichaeism as "the only extant Manichean temple in China", or "the only Manichean building which has survived intact". In 2021, Cao'an was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with many other sites near Quanzhou because of its unique testimony to the exchange of religious ideas and cultures in medieval China. Over 2022 the number of tourists to the location doubled and preservation efforts began.
Chinese Manichaeism, also known as Monijiao(Chinese: 摩尼教; pinyin: Móníjiào; Wade–Giles: Mo2-ni2 Chiao4; lit. 'religion of Moni') or Mingjiao(Chinese: 明教; pinyin: Míngjiào; Wade–Giles: Ming2-Chiao4; lit. 'religion of light' or 'bright religion'), is the form of Manichaeism transmitted to, and currently practiced in, China. It rose to prominence during the Tang dynasty and, despite frequent persecutions, has continued long after the other forms of Manichaeism were eradicated in the West. The most complete set of surviving Manichaean writings were written in Chinese sometime before the 9th century and were found in the Mogao Caves among the Dunhuang manuscripts.
Aphthonius of Alexandria is mentioned by church historian Philostorgius as a learned and eloquent bishop of the Manichaeans. He is mentioned as a disciple and commentator of the prophet Mani by Photios I of Constantinople and Peter of Sicily, and in the form of abjuring Manichaeism.
Manichaean scripture includes nine main books: the Seven Treatises of Manichaeism, all personally written by Mani in Syriac, the Shabuhragan written by Mani in Middle Persian, and the Arzhang, a series of illustrations painted by Mani.
In Manichaeism, Jesus is considered one of the four prophets of the faith, along with Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha and Mani. He is also a "guiding deity" who greets the light bodies of the righteous after their deliverance.
Mar Sisin, the letter of the last thought, also known as Sisinnius, one of the twelve Apostles of the founder of Mani. He was one of the most influential Manichaeans in the early church, as he served as a core figure of the early church and was the first Manichaean Archegos, the head of the Manichaean religion.
Mar Adda, was one of the twelve apostles of Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, the year of birth and death is unknown.
Manichaeism has a rich tradition of visual art, starting with Mani himself writing the Book of Pictures.
Although Manichaeism has historically been a fairly unified religion, it has had some schisms over its history. These schisms occurred from the sixth century AD until at least the 10th century AD.
Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, had 12 Apostles like Jesus.
The Archegos was the head of the Manichaean religion. No surviving list of every Archegos remains, and the succession procedure is unknown. Abū Hilāl al-Dayhūri is the last known Archegos. The first Archegos was the prophet Mani.
In Manichaeism, Siddartha Gautama is considered one of the four prophets of the faith, along with Zoroaster, Jesus and Mani. Mani believed that the teachings of Gautama Buddha, Zoroaster, and Jesus were incomplete, and that his revelations were for the entire world, calling his teachings the "Religion of Light".
Aristocritus was a Christian, Platonist writer of the fifth century who was the author of a work titled Theosophy, ostensibly about oracles, but in which he expressed a controversial syncretic belief that Christianity, Judaism, and Manichaeism were all basically the same. This belief caused him to be condemned by Zacharias Rhetor as well as in various later Byzantine texts. He is known to us primarily by his mention in a list of medieval anathemas, written around the year 1000, known as the Long Anathema, primarily aimed at Manichaeans. His identification as a Manichaean is however considered somewhat dubious, as he was known to write uncharitable things about Mani himself.
References
- ↑ Iricinschi, Eduard & Holger M. Zellentin (eds.) Heresy and Identity in Late Antiquity: "the Nomen Manichaeorum and Its Uses in Late Antiquity." Page 149.
- ↑ Anderson, Graham. Sage, Saint and Sophist: Holy Men and Their Associates in the Early Roman Empire. Routledge, 1994.
- 1 2 3 Lieu, Samuel N.C. Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China: a Historical Survey. Pages 68-69. Manchester University Press, 1985.
- ↑ Chase, Frederic H. (ed.) Saint John of Damascus: Writings. Page 127. CUA Press, 2000.
