Manichaeism facts for kids

Manichaean priests, writing at their desks, with panel inscription in Uyghur. Manuscript from Khocho, Tarim Basin.

Manichaeism (in Modern Persian [آیین مانی] Error: {{Lang}}: script: arab not supported for code: fa (help) Āyin e Māni) was one of the major Iranian Gnostic religions. Originally it came from Sassanid Persia. Most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani (Syriac, ܡܐܢܝ, c. AD 210–276) have been lost, but many translations and fragmentary texts have survived. Manichaeism was big between the third and seventh centuries. At its height it 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. Manichaeism appears to have died out before the sixteenth century in southern China.

The original six sacred books of Manichaeism were written in Syriac Aramaic. They were soon translated into other languages to help spread the religion. As they spread to the east, the Manichaean writings passed through Middle Persian, Parthian, Sogdian, and ultimately Uyghur and Chinese translations. As they spread to the west, they were translated into Greek, Coptic, and Latin. The spread and success of Manichaeism were seen as a threat to other religions, and it was widely persecuted in Christian, Zoroastrian, and later, Islamic areas.

State religions in 820 AD - Uyghur Khaganate is Manichaean

Images for kids

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  Yuan Chinese silk painting Mani's Birth.

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  Sermon on Mani's Teaching of Salvation, 13th-century Chinese Manichaean silk painting.

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  Manichaean Painting of the Buddha Jesus depicts Jesus Christ as a Manichaean prophet. The figure can be identified as a representation of Jesus Christ by the small gold cross that sits on the red lotus pedestal in His left hand.

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  10th century Manichaean Electae in Gaochang (Khocho), China.

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  Akshobhya in the Abhirati with the Cross of Light, a symbol of Manichaeism.

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  A map of the spread of Manichaeism (300–500). World History Atlas, Dorling Kindersly.

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  Augustine of Hippo was once a Manichaean.

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  A 13th-century manuscript from Augustine's book VII of Confessions criticizing Manichaeism.

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  Amitābha in his Western Paradise with Indians, Tibetans, and Central Asians, with two symbols of Manichaeism: Sun and Cross.

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  The four primary prophets of Manichaeism in the Manichaean Diagram of the Universe, from left to right: Mani, Zoroaster, Buddha and Jesus.

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  Uyghur Manichaean clergymen, wall painting from the Khocho ruins, 10th/11th century CE. Located in the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Humboldt Forum, Berlin.

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  Worship of the Tree of Life in the World of Light; a Manichaean picture from the Bezeklik Caves

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  Manichaean Diagram of the Universe depicts the Manichaean cosmology.

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  An image of the Buddha as one of the primary prophets on a Manichaean pictorial roll fragment from Chotscho, 10th century.

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  Statue of prophet Mani as the "Buddha of Light" in Cao'an Temple in Jinjiang, Fujian, "a Manichaean temple in Buddhist disguise", which is considered "the only extant Manichean temple in China"

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  摩尼教文獻 The Chinese Manichaean "Compendium"

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  Two female musicians depicted in a Manichaean text

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  "Maiden of Light" from the Manichaean Diagram

See also

In Spanish: Maniqueísmo para niños