Manichaeism
Manichaeism (in New Persian آیینِ مانی Āyīn-e Mānī; Chinese: 摩尼教; pinyin: Móníjiào) is a religion founded in the 3rd century AD by the Parthian prophet Mani (AD 216–274), in the Sasanian Empire. It reveres Mani as a prophet, as well as Jesus, Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha, Narayana and Seth. The faith was formerly one of the world’s major religious groups, but is practiced by relatively few today, mainly amongst Uyghurs, Mongolia, and Chinese Manichaeism.Manichaeism teaches an elaborate dualistic cosmology describing the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process that takes place in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of light, whence it came. Its beliefs are based on local Mesopotamian religious movements and Gnosticism.Manichaeism was quickly successful and spread far through the Aramaic-speaking regions. It thrived between the third and seventh centuries, and at its height was one of the most widespread religions in the world. Manichaean churches and scriptures existed as far east as China and as far west as the Roman Empire. It was briefly the main rival to Christianity in the competition to replace classical polytheism before the spread of Islam. Beginning with the emperor Diocletian, a follower of Roman Religion, Manichaeism was persecuted by the Roman state and was eventually stamped out in the Roman Empire.Manichaeism has survived longer in the east than it did in the west. Although it was thought to have finally faded away after the 14th century in south China, contemporary to the decline of the Church of the East in Ming China, there is a growing corpus of evidence that shows Manichaeism persists in some areas of China, especially in Fujian province, where numerous Manichaean relics have been discovered over time. The currently known sects are notably secretive and protective of their belief system, which has aided in them going relatively undetected. This stems from fears relating to persecution and suppression during various periods of Chinese history.While most of Manichaeism’s original writings have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived.An adherent of Manichaeism is called a Manichaean or Manichean, or Manichee, especially in older sources.
Manichaeism was a dualistic religion founded in the 3rd century CE by Mani, a Parthian prophet:
Beliefs
Manichaeism taught that the world was a combination of spirit and matter, and that the soul was trapped in the material world. It also taught that there was a constant struggle between a good, spiritual world of light and an evil, material world of darkness.
Founder
Mani was born in southern Babylonia (now in Iraq). He believed himself to be the last in a line of prophets that included Adam, Buddha, Zoroaster, and Jesus.
Spread
Manichaeism spread quickly from its origins in modern day Iraq and Iran. It was spread by missionaries through the Roman empire and the East.
Decline
Manichaeism flourished in Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Turkestan, Northern India, Western China, and Tibet. It died out in Tibet at an uncertain date.
Characteristics
Manichaeism was a fusion of Zoroastrian Dualism, Babylonian folklore, Buddhist ethics, and some Christian elements.
Elect
Manichaeans who were “sealed” with the three seals of mouth, hands, and breast lived in monasteries and traveled to spread the faith. They ate only once a day, a meal of vegetables taken after nightfall