Manichaeism

Manichaeism is a religion founded by the Persian prophet Mani in the third century. It teaches that light and darkness are opposing powers whose cosmic struggle shapes the material world and human life.

Mani: A third-century religious prophet who founded Manichaeism and presented himself as the final messenger in a succession of revelations. His teachings established the religion’s cosmology, scriptures, and missionary movement.
Elect and Hearers: The two principal ranks in Manichaean communities: ascetic Elect and lay Hearers who supported them. Their complementary duties organized the community’s path toward releasing light.
Sasanian Empire: The Persian empire that ruled from 224 to 651 CE and formed the political setting for Mani’s life and mission. Mani preached under Sasanian rule, where his movement encountered royal support and persecution.
Shapur I: A Sasanian king who ruled from 240 to 270 CE and received Mani’s dedication of the Shabuhragan. His reign gave Mani an opening to present his teaching at the Sasanian court.
Manichaean Chinese texts: Chinese-language scriptures and documents produced by Manichaean communities in China. They show how the religion adapted its terminology and teachings for Chinese audiences.
Dualism: A worldview that explains reality through two fundamental, irreducible principles or forces. Manichaeism is a particularly systematic religious form of dualism.
Manichaean fasting: A religious practice of abstaining from food at prescribed times, observed especially by the Elect. Fasting formed part of the Elect’s discipline and ritual calendar.
Elkhasai: A Jewish-Christian prophet associated with a baptizing movement in second-century Mesopotamia. Mani’s early religious environment included communities linked to the Elchasaites.
Bardaisan: A Syriac Christian thinker from Edessa whose writings addressed fate, free will, and the structure of the cosmos. His distinct Christian cosmology offers a nearby alternative to Mani’s system.
Manichaean manuscripts of Turfan: Manichaean texts recovered from archaeological sites in the Turfan region of Central Asia. Their languages and contents document the religion’s eastern communities and transmission.

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