WI: The Ming proclaim Manichaeism as the state religion

The Red Turban movement--from which the Ming dynasty originated--was heavily influenced by the Chinese variant of the gnostic religion of Manichaeism.

What if the faith had been made official by the Ming founder?
 
That'd be amazing. I've always loved this general concept.

I imagine Manichaeism would grow with state sponsorship, although I think the potential for syncretism (so many Greek/Syriac concepts to be translated!) is also very high.
 
I guess that this might meet some opposition from noble class and conservatives. Ming might last shorter time as in OTL.
 
Oh, I'm always a big fan of Manichaean PODs, however in order for this one to take off, the Hongwu Emperor would have to convert to the Light, and since the man was always keen to be seen as a defender of Confucianism, and Neo-Confucianism in particular... Maybe instead one of his sons could take a more direct interest in Manicheanism than their father did and become Emperor, the man had A LOT of children, there are plenty of alternatives to the Jianwen Emperor and the Yongle Emperor.

The key thing though is that the Manichean Emperor KEEPS the Dragon Throne long enough to affect the level of authority to not only declare Manicheanism the State Religion of the Middle Kingdom, but I assume you want it to stick for a while.

Though in the long-term I can see Manicheanism being treated as a variation of Buddhism by the local population and traditional animist religions of China will change it.

In fact I could see a future with another dynasty having to do a balancing act between traditional Confucians, Daoists, Buddhists, and the new fangled Manicheans who have it clear that they are not going to role over and die.
 
Oh, I'm always a big fan of Manichaean PODs, however in order for this one to take off, the Hongwu Emperor would have to convert to the Light, and since the man was always keen to be seen as a defender of Confucianism, and Neo-Confucianism in particular... Maybe instead one of his sons could take a more direct interest in Manicheanism than their father did and become Emperor, the man had A LOT of children, there are plenty of alternatives to the Jianwen Emperor and the Yongle Emperor.

The key thing though is that the Manichean Emperor KEEPS the Dragon Throne long enough to affect the level of authority to not only declare Manicheanism the State Religion of the Middle Kingdom, but I assume you want it to stick for a while.

Though in the long-term I can see Manicheanism being treated as a variation of Buddhism by the local population and traditional animist religions of China will change it.

In fact I could see a future with another dynasty having to do a balancing act between traditional Confucians, Daoists, Buddhists, and the new fangled Manicheans who have it clear that they are not going to role over and die.
Pretty sure he was a convert--it's just that he wasn't really a sincere convert.I was under the impression that Zhu Yuanzhang was always a pragmatist rather than a true believer in anything.I mean,the guy was a monk to start with and later published an eulogy endorsing Islam.
 
Pretty sure he was a convert--it's just that he wasn't really a sincere convert.I was under the impression that Zhu Yuanzhang was always a pragmatist rather than a true believer in anything.I mean,the guy was a monk to start with and later published an eulogy endorsing Islam.

Yes but this sort of religious promotion would have to happen if A) There was a huge wave of conversions to Manicheanism or B) A member of the Imperial Family had a sincere conversion and influenced the others to do the same.

There is very little sincerity from the Hongwu Emperor, if you want the Manichean faith to stick, you need a sincere and enthusiastic Imperial convert, which would have to include Hongwu's children, and most importantly, the one who inherits the Middle Kingdom.
 
Yes but this sort of religious promotion would have to happen if A) There was a huge wave of conversions to Manicheanism or B) A member of the Imperial Family had a sincere conversion and influenced the others to do the same.

There is very little sincerity from the Hongwu Emperor, if you want the Manichean faith to stick, you need a sincere and enthusiastic Imperial convert, which would have to include Hongwu's children, and most importantly, the one who inherits the Middle Kingdom.
To bring Manichaeism to prominence,you need Han Shantong to survive and successfully lead the Red Turbans against the Mongols rather than Zhu Yuanzhang.Han Shantong more or less projected himself as some sort of Saoshyant figure.
 
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