Image of a Manichaean Temple

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Image of a Manichaean Temple, from cave 38B (cave 25 by Albert Grünwedel) at Bezeklik Caves. The upper and lower parts of the picture are the sky and the earth respectively. The sky is seven-fold semi-circular, and the earth is square, indicating the circle of the sky. Mani Temple is located in the middle and stands on the earth. The temple is a five-fold Taiwan-style building. The hall is in the first floor, and the five gates on the first floor refer to the five halls in the Manichonian temple, namely, the Jingtu Hall, the Jai Lecture Hall, the Confession Hall, the Professor Hall and the Sick Monk Hall. On the highest platform a line of stars lead up to the sky. Two multi-step roads with different widths and narrowness are in front of the temple. According to this map of Manichonian temples, it can be proved that Shengjinkou North Temple is a Manichonian temple in terms of architectural form. On the contrary, the Buddhist temples in Turpan do not have this form.

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