Mani and the Messiah in the Record of the Dharma-Jewel through the Generations—The origins of Manichean and Nestorian elements in Tibetan texts

Abstract

This paper for the first time reveals the records on Manichaeism and Nestorianism in the Dunhuang manuscript of an early Chan text Record of the Dharma-Jewel through the Generations. It traces the origins of the story manipulated by Buddhist monks against Manichaeism and Nestorianism in the late part of the eighth century and contextualizes the religious milieu after the An Lushan rebellion. It argues that the Buddhist community in the Sichuan region faced the challenges of foreign religions including Manichaeism and Nestorianism due to the military compaign involving numerous Uyghur troops against the An Lushan rebellion. In the meantime, Nestorians built their connections with the Tang army. This paper also examines the contacts between Tibet and the Tang Empire via Chengdu and the transmission of the Chinese Chan texts to Tibet and therefore the records of Manichaeism and Nestorianism also appeared in the Tibetan manuscripts.