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Overviw: The Manichean Denominations
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Manichean Denominations:
Msadeqiyya
The Msadeqiyya are the predominant Manichean denomination found across much of the Indian Ocean trade network. The Msadeqiyya are a highly divergent branch of Manichaeism, having strong Mazdaki influences in it as well. The Mazdakis had at one point fully taken over Mazoun; however as moral decline was imminent, the religion of Mazoun was reformed by Sourab, the chairman of the Sacred Council of Mazoun, and one of the key virtues that was underlined by Sourab was moderation, halfway between hedonistic Mazdakism and the ascetic nature of the Manichean electi.
“Listen my son, to the art of moderation. As you know, everything has something good in itself, but also something bad. Take pleasure from the things and joys of the world, but beware! In great ammounts, the evil substance will accumulate and destroy your will and strength. Remember therefore to stop once you are satisfied, and do not drink each cup to the end. Should you believe that you need something very much, put it away from yourself for the duration of the great fast before Bema, so that your soul remains uncorrupted”
View attachment 537967
Above: the structure of bishoprics of the Msadeqi Church
With Mazoun playing key role in the Indian Ocean trade network, this faith spread rapidly across much of southern Asia, and has bade inroads along the Kinari Coast in the south and Champa to the east. Devout Msadeqi are known for their preference of a vegetarian diet (not difficult to achieve, as they may rely on fishing as a source of proteins), but also of allowance of slavery.
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Holy Church of the Denawar of Mar Mani
The Denawar Church is based in Samarqand and uses Sogdian as its main language of liturgy. The Denawar consider themselves to be the truest branch of Manicheans, untainted by other influences. Given the nature of Manicheism as a syncretic religion, it is enterntaining to consider it being a virtue. Be iti as it is, the Denawariyya communities consist of three separate clusters: in the south, we can see major communities in Sogdia, Khwarasmia and Zabulistan; in the northwest the Bolghars and in the northeast the Yenisey Kirghiz
View attachment 537969
Sogdia itself is now predominantly Christian, with the Denawar forming an important minority of roughly 15% of the population, acting mainly as artisans, artisans and money-lenders. A strong Denawar community is present in Khorasmia, especially along its lower course, where they form the majority. The position of the Manicheans in Central Asia has improved with the ascension of Kaidu to the throne of the Abaqid Khanate, especially when Yagma Mar Ammo has become a close friend of Kaidu.
The Manicheans are considering to send in mission to the Tarim Basin, as the previous Manichean church organization in the area has collapsed.
As for the Yenisey Kirghiz, it is believed that their faith is strongly intertwined with Tengri shamanistic practices, and little, if any knowledge of the religion is present among them.
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Roshblani Manicheism
The Manichean faith, as it has established a foothold in Multan, it adapted to the local customs, as the Manicheans have been doing anywhere they went. Contact with Samarqand, the seat of the Denawar denomination in Central Asia has weakened; and in the region known to Greeks as Pentapotamia or Pantzab, a new denomination called RoshblaniThe Roshblani sect of Manichaeism has incorporated a number of elements from Hindu and Buddhist practice. The original Gnostic nature of the faith appears to be rediscovered, as the Manichean religion has entered the caste-based society of the Subcontinent. Some early Manichean texts have never made into Pantzab, and as a result the Roshblani denomination has partially diverged from the remaining Manichean denominations, although Mazouni merchants travelling the Indus River upstream did recognize the religion as Manichean.
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I am not making a map of the structure of the Roshblani church organization, as it is present only in a very small area.
View attachment 537975
Mingjian
Manicheism in has entered into China via the Silk Road. Over the centuries, mainly during the Great Anti-Buddhist persecution, the Manicheans were forced underground, where they continued to practice in secret. Many Manicheans fled southwards to the coastal provinces of Fujian and to the Lower Yangtse. Under the Song dynasty, they were persecuted as well, and called derogatorily "vegetarian demon-worshippers".
Unlike other Manichean denominations, the Mingjian priests have been forced by successive emperors to shave their hair, and wear the Chinese hanfu; as a result, many were almost indistinguishable from Buddhist monks
View attachment 537976
Provinces with presumably a Manichean majority .
Manichean practices in China have come under a very strong influence from Buddhism, and also vice versa. Lacking a centralized church structure, Manicheism in China has become significantly divergent from the Denawar from. Among its traits is the emphasis on vegetarianism. Although much of Manichean doctrine and artworks are preserved, the message is interpreted according to Chinese mindset. Under the Yuan dynasty, the Mingjian got some more free air to breathe, especially while the Great Khans were Christian. However, subsequently as the Yuan Khans turned to favour Vajrayana Buddhism, the Manicheans once again fear for their fate. It is believed that they, along with some highly divergent sects of Mahayana Buddhists are slowly working on a popular rebellion....
Togozgoziya
The Togozgoziya is an apparently extinct branch of Manicheism located in the Tarim Basin, and has generally subsumed to Buddhism. Dating back from the Uyghur Khanate, once this steppe empire collapsed, a large number of the Uyghurs migrated to the Tarim Basin. Most of them have adopted Buddhism from their Saka subjects, and their church structure has collapsed. However, it is believed that a considerable number of Manicheans remain in the area...
Manichean Denominations:
Msadeqiyya
The Msadeqiyya are the predominant Manichean denomination found across much of the Indian Ocean trade network. The Msadeqiyya are a highly divergent branch of Manichaeism, having strong Mazdaki influences in it as well. The Mazdakis had at one point fully taken over Mazoun; however as moral decline was imminent, the religion of Mazoun was reformed by Sourab, the chairman of the Sacred Council of Mazoun, and one of the key virtues that was underlined by Sourab was moderation, halfway between hedonistic Mazdakism and the ascetic nature of the Manichean electi.
“Listen my son, to the art of moderation. As you know, everything has something good in itself, but also something bad. Take pleasure from the things and joys of the world, but beware! In great ammounts, the evil substance will accumulate and destroy your will and strength. Remember therefore to stop once you are satisfied, and do not drink each cup to the end. Should you believe that you need something very much, put it away from yourself for the duration of the great fast before Bema, so that your soul remains uncorrupted”
View attachment 537967
Above: the structure of bishoprics of the Msadeqi Church
With Mazoun playing key role in the Indian Ocean trade network, this faith spread rapidly across much of southern Asia, and has bade inroads along the Kinari Coast in the south and Champa to the east. Devout Msadeqi are known for their preference of a vegetarian diet (not difficult to achieve, as they may rely on fishing as a source of proteins), but also of allowance of slavery.
View attachment 537966
Holy Church of the Denawar of Mar Mani
The Denawar Church is based in Samarqand and uses Sogdian as its main language of liturgy. The Denawar consider themselves to be the truest branch of Manicheans, untainted by other influences. Given the nature of Manicheism as a syncretic religion, it is enterntaining to consider it being a virtue. Be iti as it is, the Denawariyya communities consist of three separate clusters: in the south, we can see major communities in Sogdia, Khwarasmia and Zabulistan; in the northwest the Bolghars and in the northeast the Yenisey Kirghiz
View attachment 537969
Sogdia itself is now predominantly Christian, with the Denawar forming an important minority of roughly 15% of the population, acting mainly as artisans, artisans and money-lenders. A strong Denawar community is present in Khorasmia, especially along its lower course, where they form the majority. The position of the Manicheans in Central Asia has improved with the ascension of Kaidu to the throne of the Abaqid Khanate, especially when Yagma Mar Ammo has become a close friend of Kaidu.
The Manicheans are considering to send in mission to the Tarim Basin, as the previous Manichean church organization in the area has collapsed.
As for the Yenisey Kirghiz, it is believed that their faith is strongly intertwined with Tengri shamanistic practices, and little, if any knowledge of the religion is present among them.
View attachment 537970
Roshblani Manicheism
The Manichean faith, as it has established a foothold in Multan, it adapted to the local customs, as the Manicheans have been doing anywhere they went. Contact with Samarqand, the seat of the Denawar denomination in Central Asia has weakened; and in the region known to Greeks as Pentapotamia or Pantzab, a new denomination called RoshblaniThe Roshblani sect of Manichaeism has incorporated a number of elements from Hindu and Buddhist practice. The original Gnostic nature of the faith appears to be rediscovered, as the Manichean religion has entered the caste-based society of the Subcontinent. Some early Manichean texts have never made into Pantzab, and as a result the Roshblani denomination has partially diverged from the remaining Manichean denominations, although Mazouni merchants travelling the Indus River upstream did recognize the religion as Manichean.
View attachment 537971
I am not making a map of the structure of the Roshblani church organization, as it is present only in a very small area.
View attachment 537975
Mingjian
Manicheism in has entered into China via the Silk Road. Over the centuries, mainly during the Great Anti-Buddhist persecution, the Manicheans were forced underground, where they continued to practice in secret. Many Manicheans fled southwards to the coastal provinces of Fujian and to the Lower Yangtse. Under the Song dynasty, they were persecuted as well, and called derogatorily "vegetarian demon-worshippers".
Unlike other Manichean denominations, the Mingjian priests have been forced by successive emperors to shave their hair, and wear the Chinese hanfu; as a result, many were almost indistinguishable from Buddhist monks
View attachment 537976
Provinces with presumably a Manichean majority .
Manichean practices in China have come under a very strong influence from Buddhism, and also vice versa. Lacking a centralized church structure, Manicheism in China has become significantly divergent from the Denawar from. Among its traits is the emphasis on vegetarianism. Although much of Manichean doctrine and artworks are preserved, the message is interpreted according to Chinese mindset. Under the Yuan dynasty, the Mingjian got some more free air to breathe, especially while the Great Khans were Christian. However, subsequently as the Yuan Khans turned to favour Vajrayana Buddhism, the Manicheans once again fear for their fate. It is believed that they, along with some highly divergent sects of Mahayana Buddhists are slowly working on a popular rebellion....
Togozgoziya
The Togozgoziya is an apparently extinct branch of Manicheism located in the Tarim Basin, and has generally subsumed to Buddhism. Dating back from the Uyghur Khanate, once this steppe empire collapsed, a large number of the Uyghurs migrated to the Tarim Basin. Most of them have adopted Buddhism from their Saka subjects, and their church structure has collapsed. However, it is believed that a considerable number of Manicheans remain in the area...
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 940