Canon Status
Canonical in Chinese Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.
Date & Provenance
Translated and composed from the 7th to the 10th centuries CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Chinese manuscripts from Dunhuang and other sites. The Compendium (Taishō 2141A) and the Hymnscroll (Taishō 2140).
Why It Matters for Study
The primary sources for Manichaeism in China. Show how Mani was presented as the " Buddha of Light" and how Manichaean teachings we're adapted to Chinese Buddhist and Daoist vocabulary.
" Mani, the Buddha of Light, came into the world to save all living beings." — Compendium of the Teachings of Mani (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- " Mani, the Buddha of Light, came into the world to save all living beings." — Compendium of the Teachings of Mani (paraphrase) " Mani, the Buddha of Light, came into the world to save all living beings." — Compendium of the Teachings of Mani (paraphrase)
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Lieu, S. N. C. Manichaeism in Central Asia and China. Brill, 1998.
Bryder, P. The Chinese Transformation of Manichaeism. Plus-Pisa University Press, 2001.
Chinese Manichaean Texts — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Manichaean_texts|Background and scholarly discussion.