page_title: Arzhang
hierarchical_section_title: Arzhang
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Manichäisches Buchblatt. Khocho, Ruine K. 8./9. Jh. n.Chr. Malerei auf Papier. 17,2 x 11,2 cm. III 6368. English: Leaf from a Manichaean Book. Khocho, Ruin K. 8th/9th century AD. Painting on paper. 17.2x 11.2 cm. “MIK III 6368” recto.
context_page_description: The Arzhang, also known as the Book of Pictures, was one of the holy books of Manichaeism. It was written and illustrated by its prophet, Mani, in Syriac, with later reproductions written in Sogdian. It was unique as a sacred text in that it contained numerous pictures designed to portray Manichaean cosmogony, which were regarded as integral to the text.
  The original Arzhang illustrated by Mani has been lost and its exact content is unknown. However, it is known that its illustrations were of appreciable quality, and copies were preserved in the Middle East as late as 1092 AD, when it is recorded that the library of Ghazni held a copy. Since the discovery of Manichaean artwork during the German Turfan expeditions, scholars began piecing together the style of the Arzhang and reassessed the influence of Manichaean art in general.
context_section_description: The Arzhang (Middle Persian: Ārdahang‎; Persian: ارژنگ‎, romanized: Aržang or Ārzhang; Coptic: Eikōn; Parthian: dw bwngʾhyg [dō bunɣāhīg], meaning "Worthy"), also known as the Book of Pictures, was one of the holy books of Manichaeism. It was written and illustrated by its prophet, Mani, in Syriac, with later reproductions written in Sogdian. It was unique as a sacred text in that it contained numerous pictures designed to portray Manichaean cosmogony, which were regarded as integral to the text.
  The original Arzhang illustrated by Mani has been lost and its exact content is unknown. However, it is known that its illustrations were of appreciable quality, and copies were preserved in the Middle East as late as 1092 AD, when it is recorded that the library of Ghazni held a copy. Since the discovery of Manichaean artwork during the German Turfan expeditions, scholars began piecing together the style of the Arzhang and reassessed the influence of Manichaean art in general.
caption: Leaf from a Uyghur-Manichaean version of a book of pictures; an iteration of Mani's pictorial teaching with the Arzhang
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