Manichaeism
A strange thought struck me this week while reading Frances Wood’s The Silk Road. It seems to me like Manichaeism is almost a perfect example of the Silk Road. Originating around the beginning of the 3rd century CE Manichaesim was a dualistic religion. Mani, the founding father, preached about the fight between light and darkness, good and evil. Although his ideas were powerful and influential, they were not entirely new.
That last statement isn’t exactly fair, or true, unless further discussed. Mani admittedly brought together aspects of early Judaism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism, however, the resulting doctrine of Faith was altogether unique. It is for this reason that I think that Manichaeism lends itself to be an example or symbol for the Silk Road.
The borrowing and blending of styles is a classic motif for Silk Road art, religion, architecture ect. Similarly, early Islam was also much influenced by its Jewish and Christian cousins. Manichaeism differs in the fact that it does not claim a monotheistic belief. It relies more heavily upon the Buddhist teachings. There is even a small excerpt from our text which explains how there is one temple where people go and worship Buddha. It appears, however, that the temple is NOT decorated with images of Buddha but images of the Prophet Mani instead.
Manichaeism reached its peak between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE and has since reduced dramatically. This may or may not have to do with the strict vow abstinence for the elite. Im not too convinced that would be enough to stop what was once the most widely spread world religion. I lean more towards the fact that they were strict vegetarians.
‘Neither have I cast it into the oven, another hath brough me this and I have eaten it without guilt’
(Unfortunately for me, this brings to mind a scene from Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. There is a blind date scene where Hugh’s date cannot eat fruits or vegetables that have been forcibly removed from the earth, only those that have ‘died’ and fallen. She was not Manichaen, and there was not a second date)
I don’t think that this is an exact representation of Manichaeism, but the suggestion that the one who takes and cooks the vegetables is therefore guilty, is implied.
Much of what we read this week also discussed the Sogdians. They too traveled all over the Silk Road. They were known for their trade, respected in office and eventually their language became that of the Silk Road. I purpose that these two stories parallel each other, in the sence that both the Sogdains and the Manichaens saw success and growth as the result of the Silk Road and its many facets.
Anyways, that is what I found interesting this week
Below you should see a small map depicting the spread of Manichaeism
