Manichaeism survives in China

All, I'm working on a POD of roughly 1755 when a massive plague (an ebola type virus) hits the world, particularly in hot, wet climates.

I'm thinking that trade would suffer as sailors died out and communication between east and west faded.

Unrest hits China, though the government is able to fight off a feeble western attempt to influence China through the "opium wars", etc.

China becomes more isolated.

At this point, when there is social unrest in the warmer, wetter, southern areas, I'd like to add in a new/old religion to the mix.

Say that "western" religions are banned due to European attempts to conquer China.

Any chance that Manichaeism (last seen largely in southern China), Nestorianism (Church of the East) or Zorostrianism (a few left in Iran and India) may take hold in the social unrest?

As "non-western" they are tolerated and during the plagues, Chinese seek a new enlightenment over Buddhism or Confuiousism that failed them.

These religions have some common values with the Chinese faiths.

Any chance an isolated of group of these dead or dying religions may take hold in the chaos?

Maybe via Persian or indian traders whom are allowed to trade with China after Europeans were banned?

Thanks. :confused:
 
Wasn't Manichaeism pretty dead religion on 18th century? And Zoroastrism is too small religion that it could take any power anywhere. And Nestorianism too seems bit implausible. And I don't see why would Chinese adopt new religion. Them have already their own religions.
 
Wasn't Manichaeism pretty dead religion on 18th century? And Zoroastrism is too small religion that it could take any power anywhere. And Nestorianism too seems bit implausible. And I don't see why would Chinese adopt new religion. Them have already their own religions.

Agreed. Manichaeism's last chance is in the late 7th century. After that? Games over chaps, Sassanid persecutions are very severe, Buddhism is firmly established and Islam is coming.
 
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The last Manichean temple in China has been described as abandoned by the start of the 17th century.

Doesn't matter, there were Egyptian temples in Upper Egypt deep into the christian stages of the Roman Empire, hell there were still pagans in North East Africa in the middle ages.
Just cause a remnant exists doesn't mean there's a chance for it to rebound in a large way. In the way that the Egyptian Paganism was dead, so too was Manichaeism in the 1600s.
 
Doesn't matter, there were Egyptian temples in Upper Egypt deep into the christian stages of the Roman Empire, hell there were still pagans in North East Africa in the middle ages.
Just cause a remnant exists doesn't mean there's a chance for it to rebound in a large way. In the way that the Egyptian Paganism was dead, so too was Manichaeism in the 1600s.

Indeed. It would take a miracle for Manichaeism to make any kind of comeback.
 
Doesn't matter, there were Egyptian temples in Upper Egypt deep into the christian stages of the Roman Empire, hell there were still pagans in North East Africa in the middle ages.
Just cause a remnant exists doesn't mean there's a chance for it to rebound in a large way. In the way that the Egyptian Paganism was dead, so too was Manichaeism in the 1600s.

I was trying to point out that by the time of OP's PoD, it's dead as dead could be, and locals thought that was a Buddhist temple, and no one knew what a Mani is.
 
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