Mani's Pictures: The Didactic Images of the Manichaeans from Sasanian Mesopotamia to Uygur Central Asia and Tang-Ming China (Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies)

The Founder Of Manichaeism, Mani (216-274/277 Ce), Not Only Wrote Down His Teachings To Prevent Their Adulteration, But Also Created A Set Of Paintings—the Book Of Pictures—to Be Used In The Context Of Oral Instruction. That Pictorial Handscroll And Its Later Editions Became Canonical Art For Mani's Followers For A Millennium Afterwards. This Richly Illustrated Study Systematically Explores The Artistic Culture Of Religious Instruction Of The Manichaeans Based On Textual And Artistic Evidence. It Discusses The Doctrinal Themes (soteriology, Prophetology, Theology, And Cosmology) Depicted In Mani’s Canonical Pictures. Moreover, It Identifies 10th-century Fragments Of Canonical Picture Books, As Well As Select Didactic Images Adapted To Other, Non-canonical Art Objects (murals, Hanging Scrolls, Mortuary Banners, And Illuminated Liturgical Manuscripts) In Uygur Central Asia And Tang-ming China.-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Pt. 1 Textual Sources On Manichaean Didactic Art -- Introduction To Part 1 -- 1.primary And Secondary Records In Coptic, Syriac, Greek, And Arabic Texts (3rd-10th Centuries) -- Survey And Analysis -- Assessment Of Data -- 2.primary Records In Parthian And Middle Persian Texts (3rd -- 9th Centuries) -- Survey And Analysis -- Assessment Of Data -- 3.primary, Secondary And Tertiary Records In Uygur And Chinese Texts (8th -- 13th Centuries) -- Survey And Analysis -- Assessment Of Data -- 4.tertiary Records In Post-manichaean Arabic, Persian, And Chagatai Texts (11th -- 17th Centuries) -- Survey And Analysis -- Assessment Of Data -- Pt. 2 Physical Remains Of Manichaean Didactic Art -- Introduction To Part 2 -- 5.format And Preservation -- Picture Books -- Wall Paintings -- Hanging Scrolls -- Mortuary Banners -- Illuminated Service Books -- 6.subject Repertoire And Iconography -- Soteriology -- Prophetology -- Theology -- Cosmology -- Mythic History. By Zsuzsanna Gulácsi. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 505-528) And Index. Contents Acknowledgements List of Tables List of Figures Introduction Part 1 Textual Sources on Manichaean Didactic Art Introduction to Part 1 Chapter 1 Primary and Secondary Records in Coptic, Syriac, Greek, and Arabic Texts (3rd–10th Centuries) Survey and Analysis Assessment of Data Chapter 2 Primary Records in Parthian and Middle Persian Texts (3rd–10th Centuries) Survey and Analysis Assessment of Data Chapter 3 Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Records in Uygur and Chinese Texts (8th–13th Centuries) Survey and Analysis Assessment of Data Chapter 4 Tertiary Records in Post-Manichaean Arabic, Persian, and Chagatai Texts (11th–17th Centuries) Survey and Analysis Assessment of Data Part 2 Physical Remains of Manichaean Didactic Art Introduction to Part 2 Chapter 5 Format and Preservation Picture Books Wall Paintings Hanging Scrolls Sculpture Mortuary Banners Illuminated Service Books Chapter 6 Subject Repertoire and Iconography Soteriology Prophetology Theology Cosmology Mythic History Conclusion Bibliography Index The founder of Manichaeism, Mani (216-274/277 CE), not only wrote down his teachings to prevent their adulteration, but also created a set of paintings--the Book of Pictures --to be used in the context of oral instruction. That pictorial handscroll and its later editions became canonical art for Mani's followers for a millennium afterwards. This richly illustrated study systematically explores the artistic culture of religious instruction of the Manichaeans based on textual and artistic evidence. It discusses the doctrinal themes (soteriology, prophetology, theology, and cosmology) depicted in Mani's canonical pictures. Moreover, it identifies 10th-century fragments of canonical picture books, as well as select didactic images adapted to other, non-canonical art objects (murals, hanging scrolls, mortuary banners, and illuminated liturgical manuscripts) in Uygur Central Asia and Tang-Ming China. "This book is about the artistic culture of religious instruction of a missionary world religion, which is now extinct - Manicheism. More specifically, this study explores the available textual and visual sources in search of historical evidence about how the Manicheans used works for teaching."--Introduction, p. [1]