Canon Status
Canonical in Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.
Date & Provenance
Composed from the 4th to the 9th centuries CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Sogdian manuscripts from Turfan and other Central Asian sites.
Why It Matters for Study
Contains translations of Manichaean canonical texts into Sogdian, including the Book of Giants. Important for understanding the transmission of Manichaeism along the Silk Road.
" The Book of Giants, which Mani wrote for the Sogdian people." — Sogdian Manichaean Text (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- " The Book of Giants, which Mani wrote for the Sogdian people." — Sogdian Manichaean Text (paraphrase) " The Book of Giants, which Mani wrote for the Sogdian people." — Sogdian Manichaean Text (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
Morano, E. " Where the Demons Fell: A Manichaean Sogdian Manuscript." Journal of Iranian Linguistics 1 (2024): 8–20.
Sundermann, W. " Sogdian Manichaean Texts." In The Cambridge History of Iran, vol. 3. Cambridge University Press, 1983.
Sogdian Manichaean Texts — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaean_texts|Background and scholarly discussion.