Religious Research

Religious Research

The Formation of Manichaeism from Iran to China An Approach to Some Religious Components of Chinese Manichaeism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
maryam ahmadpour 1
Mohammad Shokri-Foumeshi 2
1 PhD Student in Non-Abrahamic Religions (Iranian Religions), University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Non-Abrahamic Religions, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jrr.2025.362064.2066
Abstract
Manichaeism was founded in Babylon in the third century CE, during the reign of the second Sasanian monarch, and shortly thereafter became established in Central Asia. Following the emergence of the Mongol Empire in the thirteenth century CE and its domination of the region, the Manichaeans sought refuge in Fujian in southeastern China. In recent decades, the remains of these migrant Manichaeans have been discovered, revealing forms of Manichaeism that differed from the form prevalent in Iran and Central Asia. The present study seeks to examine the course of the development of Manichaeism from Iran to China and to show how, after its arrival in China, Manichaeism, which was often regarded as a foreign religion, managed to preserve itself within the religious traditions of the Chinese people in Fujian during difficult periods of religious persecution by incorporating diverse elements from Buddhist and Daoist traditions, thereby enabling its continued survival and expansion in China. The article also examines the similarities and differences among the deities mentioned in Mani the Buddha of Light and those found in other Manichaean sources. The fact that Manichaeism was able to continue its existence independently in southern China after the fall of the Tang dynasty provides good evidence of the flexibility and skill of its followers in maintaining the religion while preserving an appearance of religious reverence and legitimacy.
Keywords
Mani
Formation of Manichaeism
Iran
Turfan
Fujian
Subjects
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