The Chronicle of the Buddha written in the history of the Song Dynasty: "In the first year of Yanqing ... Persians came to Korea with a pseudo-religion with a history of two years." Chen Yuan, a modern historian, believes that Manichaeism was introduced to China before the first year of Wu Zetian's extension of the Buddhist Records (694).
In the Song Dynasty, Qiu Min said in the Annals of Chang 'an: "Dayunjing Temple in the southeast corner of Huaiyuan Square, whose real name is Guangming Temple, was founded in the fourth year of Emperor Kai of Sui Dynasty, and Wendi was established by Saman Hokkekyo." Some researchers further suggested that Dayun Temple was Manichaeism, and Manichaeism was introduced to China during the Northern Zhou and Sui Dynasties.
Luo Zhenyu, a modern scholar, quoted the above words in Chang 'an Annals, and took Laozi's Hu Jing and Liangzhou Weidayun Temple Monument as evidence, pointing out that Manichaeism was not introduced to China in the Tang Dynasty, but should be promoted to the Jin Dynasty.
From the above, the time when Manichaeism was introduced into China was roughly the Dynasty, Zhou Sui Dynasty and Jin Dynasty, among which Wu Zetian extended the first year of Manichaeism to China. However, some people think that the extension of the first year of Fuduosheng to the Wu and Zhou Dynasties only marked the beginning of the open and legal spread of Manichaeism in China. Before that, Manichaeism had been spread among the people for a long time, and the message of Manichaeism may have been felt in the mainland at the beginning of the fourth century.
Volume 7 of Shu Min in Ming Dynasty records: "Mu Yue taught China in (650-683). When Wu Zetian arrived, Muge's brother Miwu didn't come back to see him ... "Muyue is the name of a senior Manichaean monk. At the beginning of this century, ten volumes of "Old Zi Hua Hu Jing" were found in Dunhuang, and there were also records of Manichaeism monks' activities before the Wu and Zhou Dynasties. According to textual research, Lao Zi's Hu Jing was written by Wang Fu around 300 A.D., and Dunhuang was the supplementary edition of later generations. This book plagiarized the teachings of Manichaeism, which should be long before Manichaeism spread openly and legally in China. In addition, Sima Guang's Zi Tongzhi Tang Jian Gaozong Ji recorded the Baitieyu Uprising in the 2nd year of Yongchun (u83), with words such as "claiming to be the Emperor of Light", which obviously bears traces of Manichaeism's light worship theory, and its time was earlier than the first year of Yanzhai.
From the way of Manichaeism spreading to the east, it entered Central Asia at the end of the third century, but from the beginning of the fourth century to the sixth century, the land traffic between China and the West was not blocked by the exclusion of immigrants from Buddhism and Manichaeism. Therefore, it should not be a problem for Manichaeans to continue to travel eastward, accompanied by people from the western regions who were stranded by the war, to preach in Chinese mainland. Manichaeism is easily confused with Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, which is difficult to identify. However, if we study some peasant uprisings before the Tang Dynasty with the help of the belief characteristics of Manichaeism, we will find some terms such as "Holy King", "Ming King", "Ming Dow" and "Living in a Clean Country", which advocate white. Burning lanterns for sacrifice, etc. , all related to Manichaeism. In short, before the Tang Dynasty, that is, at the beginning of the 4th century, the people of China may have been influenced by Manichaeism.
There are different opinions about the time when Manichaeism was introduced into China, and each has its own reasons. But what kind of statement is in line with historical facts needs further study.