Mani
Mani was the founder of Manichaeism, a religious movement characterized by its radically dualistic worldview, which drew parallels to other major religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism. He began his public ministry around 240 CE after receiving a divine command, using both written texts and oral teachings to effectively spread his message. His teachings gained significant traction within the Persian Empire, especially under the patronage of the royal family, which facilitated the rapid dissemination of his ideas. However, after the death of the Persian king Shapur I in 272 CE, the Zoroastrian religious establishment pushed back against Manichaean growth, leading to persecution of its followers. Mani faced severe consequences for his beliefs; he was imprisoned and tortured following a trial instigated by the Zoroastrian authorities. Despite the challenges, Manichaeism managed to spread beyond the Near East to regions such as Western Europe, India, Central Asia, and China, though it often faced opposition and destruction from rival religious groups. The legacy of Mani and his teachings continues to be a subject of interest for scholars exploring the interplay of ancient religions and cultural exchanges.
Subject Terms
Mani
Identification: Persian religious visionary and founder of Manichaeism
Significance: Mani and his new “world faith” enjoyed early success under the protection of the Persian monarchy, but were later persecuted
The radically dualistic faith founded by Mani had its closest parallels in such competing religious systems as Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism. In the year 240 c.e., according to Manichaean tradition, Mani was instructed by angelic command to begin his public proclamation of the true faith. From the beginning he relied upon written materials (including pictorial books and translations), as well as oral communication, in the missionary process as a way of spreading more quickly the tenets of the faith and of ensuring the continuing accuracy of his message. Manichaeism spread rapidly to all parts of the Persian realm during his lifetime, thanks in part to the encouragement of the Persian royal family. However, following the death of Shapur I in 272 c.e., the still dominant Zoroastrian clergy was successful in curtailing Manichaean proselytizing. Mani himself was ultimately summoned to stand trial before Bahram I on the charge of converting a Persian notable. Upon his conviction, Mani was imprisoned and tortured.
Although Manichaeism was to spread from the Near East to Western Europe, India, Central Asia, and China during subsequent centuries, its writings and adherents were often the objects of polemic, persecution, and destruction at the hands of Zoroastrians, Christians, and Muslims.