Book of Mysteries (Manichaeism)

Religious text of Manichaeism

Not to be confused with a 1st-century BCE Essene text, The Book of Mysteries.

The Book of Mysteries, also known as The Book of Secrets (Greek Transliteration: Ta tōn mustērion; Coptic transliteration: Pjōme nmmusterion; Arabic transliteration: Sifr al-asrar[1]), is one of the Seven Scriptures of Manichaeism. This scripture is transliterated in Chinese as "阿罗瓒部" (Āluózànbù) in Yilue, transliterated from the Middle Persian "rãzãn", meaning "Secret" (Secrets).[2]

It may take the form of a "treatise de anima" based around the nature of the soul, or otherwise as an exegetical work[3]

In the Manichaean canon, the Pragmateia, the Book of Mysteries, and the Book of Giants are grouped together. It makes extensive use of Christian apocryphal traditions and was written in opposition to a similar book written by Bardaisan, as a rebuttal to his take on the mysteries.[4]

## Contents

[edit]

No preserved fragments of this scripture have been found, and there is limited knowledge of its contents. Ibn al-Nadim lists the titles of the eighteen chapters of this scripture in his "Description of the Group of Books.[5][6]

1. "Talks about Daysānīyūn" (or "An Account of the Daysanites"): generally considered to refer to the Gnosticism of Pakistan.
2. "Hystaspes' Testimony on the Beloved": Hystaspes was a Zoroastrian king who was converted to Zoroastrianism, and Mani might use this kind of apocalyptic literature to explain himself and his theology.
3. "Jacob's words about the soul": Mani may quote the words about the angel Jacob in "Joseph's Prayer" in this chapter to support his myth.
4. "The Widow's Son"
5. "The words of Jesus about his soul preached by Judas": Mani may quote the record in the "Gospel of Thomas".
6. "The Beginning of Witness After the Victory of the Righteous": "The Righteous" may refer to Enoch, and this chapter may be related to the Book of Enoch.
7. "Seven Spirits": Discusses the incarnation of the dark power associated with the seven stars.
8. "Four Spirits": Discusses the incarnation of the dark power associated with the four seasons.
9. "Taking" or "Mockery": This may describe the ridicule of Mani by the cultists and the bewildered.
10. "Adam's Testimony about Jesus": Quoting from "Adam Revelation" to prove the prophetic inheritance from Adam to Jesus.
11. "Resistance from the Fall of Religion"
12. "Doctrine of the Daysanites [= Bardesanites] Regarding the Soul and the Body"
13. "Refutation of the Bardesanites Concerning the Living Soul"
14. "Three Ways" or "Three Trenches": Discusses the formation of the universe and the "three plagues" that imprison the dark demons.
15. "Construction and Maintenance of the Universe": tells the story of the world created by Net Wind.
16. "Three Days": Discusses three bright days and two dark nights without light.
17. "The Prophets": Satirizes the miracles performed by false prophets, and satirizes astrologers.
18. "The Last Judgment": Discusses the scene of the Last Judgment Day.

## See also

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* Mani
* Seven Sutras of Mani
* Manichaeism

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Tardieu, Michel (2008). Manichaeism [Manichaeology]. Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois. ISBN 9780252032783.
2. ^ G. Haloun &. W. B. Henning,The Compendium of the Doctrines and styles of the Teaching of Mani, the Buddha of Light, p. 207.
3. ^ Burns, Dylan M. (2020-11-30). Mani's Book of Mysteries: A Treatise De anima. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-44546-8.
4. ^ Venter, Pieter M. (2014). "Mani (216–276 CE) and Ethiopian Enoch". HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies. 70 (3). doi:10.4102/hts.v70i3.2095. hdl:2263/41222.
5. ^ Mary Boyce,The Manichaean Literature in Middle Iranian, p. 69.
6. ^ Tardieu, Michel (2008). Manichaeism. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-03278-3. OCLC 177019612.

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Manichaeism

Prophets|

* Mani (Founder)
* Jesus
* Sakyamuni
* Zarathustra
* Narayana
* Seth

Scripture|

* Seven treatises of Manichaeism (Gospel of Mani, Treasure of Life, The Epistles, The Book of Mysteries, Pragmateia, The Book of Giants, Psalms and Prayers)
* Book of Pictures
* Shabuhragan

Extracanonical
literature|

* New Testament
* Fundamental Epistle
* Manichaean Psalm Book
* Psalms of Thomas
* Kephalaia
* Xuastvanift
* Cologne Mani-Codex
* Medinet Madi library
* Dunhuang Manichaean texts
* Xiabuzan
* Manichaean Compendium
* Incomplete scripture of Manichaeism
* Irk Bitig†
* Turpan Manichaean texts
* Sogdian-language Manichaean letter
* Xiapu Manichaean manuscripts
* Moni Guangfo

Theology|

* Father of Greatness
* Prince of Darkness
* Zarathustra in Manichaeism
* The Buddha in Manichaeism
* Jesus in Manichaeism
* Two Principles and Three Moments
* Gnosis
* Messenger of Light
* Xroshtag and Padvaxtag
* Archon
* Asrestar

History|

* Apostles
* Mar Ammo
* Mar Sisin
* Mar Zaku
* Mar Adda
* Shad Ohrmazd
* Mihr
* Faustus
* Agapius
* Aphthonius
* Hegemonius
* Marcus
* Three Persian religions
* Huichang Persecution of Manichaeism
* Bögü Qaghan
* Sergius-Tychicus
* East-West Schism
* Amr ibn Adi
* Abū Hilāl al-Dayhūri
* Lü Shinang
* Synod of Gangra
* Lin Deng
* Persecution
* Uyghur Khaganate
* Cangnan Stele
* Qianku

Sects|

* See of Babylon
* Denawars
* Astati
* Chinese Manichaeism
* Miqlāsiyya

Organisation|

* Archegos
* Patriarch
* Apostle
* Bishop
* Presbyter
* Elect
* Hearers

Commandments|

* Three Seals
* Pañcavidyā

Rituals|

* Eucharist
* Evangelism
* Repentance
* Fasting

Buildings|

* Cao'an
* Puxi Fushou Palace [zh]
* Flying Road Pagoda [zh]
* Leshan Temple [zh]

Visual art|

* Birth of Mani
* Book of Pictures
* Diagram of the Universe
* Episodes from Mani's Missionary Work
* Icon of Mani
* Leaf from a Manichaean book MIK III 4959
* Leaf from a Manichaean book MIK III 4974
* Leaf from a Manichaean book MIK III 4979
* Leaf from a Manichaean book MIK III 6368
* Leaf from a Manichaean book MIK III 8259
* Mani's Community Established
* Mani's Parents
* Manichaean stone reliefs of Shangwan village
* Manichaean temple banner MIK III 6286
* Manichaean wall painting MIK III 6918
* Painting of the Buddha Jesus
* Sealstone of Mani
* Sermon on Mani's Teaching of Salvation
* Veneration of the Tree of Life

Writing system|

* Manichaean script
* Manichaean (Unicode block)

In fiction|

* Ming Cult
* The Gardens of Light
* Story of the Twin Dragons of Great Tang
* The Secret of Heaven

Notes: † mainly a Tengrist text but recorded in a Manichaean monastery
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