Lands of Asia layouts (Eng) 26.11.21

part iii | cultural and spiritual development
peacefully) from the Kushan period onwards, mainly through the mediation of
Central Asian peoples.
Chinese sources list the Buddhist monks Kang Senghui and Baoyi or Pao-i
(Ratnamati) (Sogdians), Dharmaraksha (Zhu Fahu) and Dharmamitra (Bactrians)
and An Shigao (a Parthian) as the most prominent figures in the dissemination,
propagation and development of Buddhist beliefs. The first translations of Buddhist
works into Chinese were made by immigrants from India and Bactria/Tokharistan
(Yuezhi). To this day, Buddhism continues to be the dominant religion in the
countries of the Far East in one form or another.
Christianity was introduced into Central Asia in the first centuries AD (St Thomas
the Apostle played a major role in its dissemination in India, as did Bishop Barshabba in
Central Asia), and its position was consolidated by the Nestorians. Nestorian adherents
took their religion as far as Chang’an, in China, to the Turks (especially the Uigurs)
and the Mongols. Nestorianism continued to be practised among them and played
an important role until the 13th–14th centuries. The last Christian communities in
Central Asia were destroyed by Ulugh Beg. The return of Christianity to the countries
of the Far East and Central Asia is associated with the colonisation of these countries
and the activities of Portuguese, Dutch, Italian and Russian missionaries.
Significant missionary activity through the mediation of Central Asian missionaries
succeeded in spreading Manichaeism (its founder, the prophet Mani, is said to have
claimed that ‘my faith is clear in every country and in every language, and spreads
to distant lands’). It was particularly
widespread among the Uigur Turks in
areas of Eastern Turkestan (Xinjiang),
where it became the state religion.
Manichean communities also existed
in China. It is well known, for example,
that in 719, the governor of Chaganian
(a region in the Surkhan Darya valley)
asked the Chinese emperor to receive
a great Manichaean Teacher (Mozhag)
and allow him to build a Manichaean
temple in the Chinese capital. With
the introduction of Islam in Xinjiang,
Fresco of Canon. Dura-
Europos 1st Century BC.
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