Social Background And Analysis Of Reasons Why Huihe Believe In Manicheismt

Before Tang Dynasty, Huihe people believed in Shamanism, which is a primitive religion. The basic characteristics of Shamanism are that believers hold the view that Shaman (priest) has the supernatural ability to communicate directly with gods. Later, because Huihe people contacted with the people of Tang Dynasty and Soghdiq people, they were influenced by the outside world, especially the influence of Soghdiq people, and were gradually aware of the backwardness of Shamanism, and began to accept Manichaeism. After Huihe people helped Tang Dynasty to put down An-Shih Rebellion, they had more contacts with Tang Dynasty. Since then, the society of Huihe speeded up relatively full development. In 763A.D, Mou Yu khan of Huihe and four Manichaeism monks of Tang Dynasty returned to Mobey. At the same time, Mou Yu khan declared their intention to abandon Shamanism, and declared Manichaeism "state religion". From then on, Huihe people began the long history of respecting Manichaeism, which lasted for hundreds of years.This paper is divided into four parts. Chapter one is a brief introduction to Huihe Khanate's social belief before they believed in Manichaeism. This chapter mainly focuses on illustrating the status and influence of Manichaeism in Huihe society.Chapter two mainly focuses on discussing social backgrounds of Huihe people who believed in Manichaeism from politics, economy and culture aspects. With the founding of Huihe and because of the long social exchange with Tang people and Sute people, full development in many domestic aspects occurred. Also, under the influence of Tang Dynasty its political condition also changed a lot, especially in the management model of the state. At the same time its economy developed rapidly with the help of Soghdiq people, particularly its commercial prosperity came into being. Culture began to develop in different directions under the influence of outside world.Chapter three mainly discusses the reasons why Mou Yu Kahan ordered all the people to believe in Manicheism from objective and subjective aspects. At that time people of different classes had the needs of a new religion. At the same time, the internal contradictions of Huihe were complex, and the ruler needed a different religion to strengthen its political power as well. Manichaeism was easy for people to accept in the aspect of doctrine and organization. Besides, Soghdiq people spread Manichaeism consciously, which accelerated the spread and impact of Manichaeism in Huihe Khanate. As a result, and with the impact of various factors, Mou Yu Khan chose Manichaeism as the religion of the state. .Chapter four is an introduction to a series of impact after Huihe people believed in Manichaeism.Focusing on studying achievements of previous researchers, this paper further testifies that the ruling class of early Huihe Khanate used Manichaeism as a tool to consolidate its rule. Therefore, we can conclude that the ruling class needs ideology suitable to social development to strengthen their ruling.