Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of Manichaeism in Uyghur writtenmonuments. Manichaeism is a religious belief that emerged in the Middle Eastin the 3rd century AD. Manichaeism contained Zoroastrian, Christian, Judaic,Mithraic and Buddhist elements. However, it is a holistic, complex religioussystem based on the dualistic philosophy of the struggle between good andevil, darkness and light, bright and dark. After the demise of the Old TurkicKhaganates, the Uyghur Begyu Khagan made Manichaeism the state religionof the Uyghur Khaganate. One of the reasons for the adoption of Manichaeismby the Uyghurs was the Begyu Khagan’s desire to establish relations with theSogdians, the missionaries of Manichaeism, who were trying to spread it inEast Turkestan, China and Mongolia.The spread of Manichaeism among the ancient Uyghurs is attested by Chineseand Arabic sources, but especially by several Uyghur monuments. Among thesemonuments is the Karabalgasun inscription, found by N.M. Yadrintsev in 1889during an expedition to Mongolia, Ordu-Balyk (Karabalgasun). The authorof the article analyzes the content of the Karabalgasun inscription and otherUyghur texts, explores the essence of the ideas of Manichaeism and reveals itsorigin, spread and close connection with Buddhism.