The manuscript titled Moni Guangfo (Mani the Buddha of Light) discovered in Xiapu, Fujian, is undoubtedly the most important recovered ritual manual of the Religion of Light (Mingjiao明教, i.e., Chinese Manichaeism). The extant version of Mani the Buddha of Light comprises 82 pages and should be considered as an early Xiapu document produced under the strong influence of Manichaean documents of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Although its format is similar to Buddhist worship and repentance rituals, the text themselves are predominantly Manichaean in content. This is a ritual manual for a congregational cult and the basic goal of the collective worship is cooperative advancement expressed through piety and ritual. Such congregational cults followed the established practices of group worship in Central Asian Manichaeism. Most Buddhist worship and repentance rituals comprised the 12 stages. Mani the Buddha of Light comprised 8 stages: 1, qingfo請佛inviting Buddha(s); 2, zanfo讚佛praising Buddha(s); 3, lifo禮佛worshipping Buddha(s); 4, wuhui五悔, the five kinds of repentance; 5, san guiyi三皈依, venerating the Triratna; 6, shuoji fayuan說偈發願, explaining in verse and making a vow to save all beings; 7, fanzhou梵咒, mantras; and 8, (zhong)he (眾)和, (the Hearers) joining in the singing or chanting. Congregational cults continued and ritual manuals of the Religion of Light were handed down generation after generation until the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), so today we are fortunate to have the opportunity to study a copy of one of these collections of ancient ritual manuals of the Religion of Light-Mani the Buddha of Light.
