Manichaeism in the Uyghur written monuments

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of Manichaeism in Uyghur written
monuments. Manichaeism is a religious belief that emerged in the Middle East
in the 3rd century AD. Manichaeism contained Zoroastrian, Christian, Judaic,
Mithraic and Buddhist elements. However, it is a holistic, complex religious
system based on the dualistic philosophy of the struggle between good and
evil, darkness and light, bright and dark. After the demise of the Old Turkic
Khaganates, the Uyghur Begyu Khagan made Manichaeism the state religion
of the Uyghur Khaganate. One of the reasons for the adoption of Manichaeism
by the Uyghurs was the Begyu Khagan’s desire to establish relations with the
Sogdians, the missionaries of Manichaeism, who were trying to spread it in
East Turkestan, China and Mongolia.
The spread of Manichaeism among the ancient Uyghurs is attested by Chinese
and Arabic sources, but especially by several Uyghur monuments. Among these
monuments is the Karabalgasun inscription, found by N.M. Yadrintsev in 1889
during an expedition to Mongolia, Ordu-Balyk (Karabalgasun). The author
of the article analyzes the content of the Karabalgasun inscription and other
Uyghur texts, explores the essence of the ideas of Manichaeism and reveals its
origin, spread and close connection with Buddhism.