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Manichaeism

Also known as religion of light, Manichaism, Manichæism, Manicheism

Manichaeism (; in ; ) was a major world religion founded in the third century CE by the Parthian Iranian prophet Mani (216–274) in the Sasanian Empire. It taught 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 in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of the divine.

AI overview

Manichaeism was a major world religion founded in the third century CE by the Iranian prophet Mani, based on a dualistic belief that the spiritual world of light constantly struggles against an evil material world of darkness. The religion taught that through human history, light gradually separates from matter and returns to the divine realm.

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Key facts

Religion.name: Manichaeism
Religion.image: Seal_of_Mani_(cleaned_up)._Seal_with_figure_of_Mani,_possibly_3rd_century_CE,_possibly_Irak._Cabinet_des_Médailles,_Paris.jpg
Religion.imagewidth: 225
Religion.alt: Sealstone of Mani
Religion.caption: Sealstone of Mani, rock crystal, possibly 3rd century CE, Iraq. Cabinet des Médailles, Paris. The seal reads "Mani, messenger of the messiah", and may have been used by Mani himself to sign his letters.
Religion.type: Universal religion
Religion.main_classification: Iranian religion
Religion.scripture: Manichaean scripture
Religion.theology: Dualistic
Religion.area: Historical: Europe, East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, Siberia
Religion.language: Middle Persian, Classical Syriac, Parthian, Classical Latin, Classical Chinese, Old Uyghur language, Tocharian B, Sogdian language, Greek
Religion.founder: Mani
Religion.founded_date: 3rd century CE
Religion.founded_place: Parthian Empire, Sasanian Empire
Religion.separated_from: Jewish Christian Elcesaite sect, and the teachings of Jesus, Buddha, and Zoroaster

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Wikidata facts

Image: Manicheans.jpg

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Commons category: Manichaeism
dissolved, abolished or demolished date: 1300-00-00

Sources (2)

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~67 min read

Article

57 sections

Contents

Terminology
History
Life of Mani
Influences
Spread
Roman Empire
Central Asia
South Siberia
China
Tibet
Iran
Arab world
Bactria
Syncretism and translation
Persecution and suppression
Later movements associated with Manichaeism
Legacy in present-day
Teachings and beliefs
General
Cosmogony
Cosmology
Outline of the beings and events in the Manichaean mythology
The World of Light
The first creation
The second creation
The third creation
The World of Darkness
The Manichaean Church
Organization
Religious practices
Prayers
Primary sources
Originally written in Syriac
Originally written in Middle Persian
Other books
Non-Manichaean works preserved by the Manichaean Church
Later works
Critical and polemic sources
Patristic depictions of Mani and Manichaeism
''Acta Archelai''
View of Judaism in the ''Acta Archelai''
Central Asian and Iranian primary sources
Coptic primary sources
Chinese primary sources
Greek life of Mani, Cologne codex
Figurative use
See also
Notes
References
Works cited
Further reading
External links
Outside articles
Manichaean sources in English translation
Secondary Manichaean sources in English translation
Manichaean sources in their original languages
Secondary Manichaean sources in their original languages

Mani's teachings were intended to integrate, succeed, and surpass the "partial truths" of various prior faiths and belief systems, including Platonism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Marcionism, Hellenistic and Rabbinic Judaism, Gnosticism, Ancient Greek religion, Babylonian religion, other ancient Mesopotamian religions, and the Greco-Roman mysteries. Some forms of Manichaeism viewed Mani as the final prophet after Zoroaster, the Buddha, and Jesus. The canon of Manichaean scripture included seven works attributed to Mani, written originally in the Syriac language. Manichaean sacramental rites included prayers, almsgiving, and fasting. Communal life centered on confession and the singing of hymns.